University Study Shows Increase in Facial Trauma
Research at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) indicates that as the popularity of electric scooters has risen dramatically, the number of scooter injuries has skyrocketed as well, with a significant portion of them involving trauma to the head and face, particularly the eyes. The study, conducted over a 12-month period in late 2018 and early 2019, looked at injuries suffered by scooter-accident victims who sought treatment at two UCSC emergency rooms. The report found that many patients coming into the emergency room with scooter-related injuries had complex facial fractures to bones around the eyes, and many had serious eye injuries as well. Nearly all had some type of facial fracture (over 90%), with most of those being complex fractures. About 75 percent needed hospitalization, and one in four required surgery. Of those who participated in the study, two of every three underwent an eye exam. Doctors found retinal hemorrhaging and numerous lacerations involving eyelids. One patient experienced temporary blindness because of pressure inside his eye. None of those who suffered injury were wearing a helmet
Under California law, electric-scooter operators over the age of 18 are not required to wear a helmet. Though studies in other parts of the country indicate that the mandatory use of helmets dramatically decreases the number and severity of head injuries among scooter operators, such laws have not been enacted. Opponents say requiring helmet use would be a significant disincentive to use of electric scooters—people will choose to rideshare or walk instead
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