Scooter accidents in the megacity of Istanbul: An analysis of orthopedic injury trends and characteristics from a level I trauma center

This study aimed to analyze orthopedic injury patterns and characteristics resulting from scooter accidents in Istanbul, Turkey, focusing on trends related to time, day, season, and demographic factors.
We conducted a retrospective analysis of 375 patients treated for scooter-related injuries at a Level I trauma center in Istanbul. The study period spanned the years of 2018 to 2023. Injuries were categorized by body region and treatment types were analyzed, including the need for surgical intervention and associated costs. Seasonal and temporal patterns of injuries were examined with specific attention to peak admission times and days of the week.
The study population consisted of 250 male (66.7%) and 125 female patients (33.3%), with a mean age of 22.6years. Most injuries were due to low-energy trauma (86.4%), with only 13.6% resulting from high-energy trauma. The majority of patients had upper extremity injuries (45.1%), followed by lower extremity injuries (26.9%). Fractures were present in 57% of cases with common injuries including hand-wrist fractures (17.1%) and elbow fractures (13.9%). Surgical intervention was required for 10.9% of these patients and the remainder were treated conservatively. The mean cost for patients with fractures was significantly higher for those requiring surgical treatment ($602.28) compared to conservative management ($36.49, p=0.001). A peak in admissions was identified at 8:00PM, with significant injury rates observed on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Increased admissions were observed from May to September, with July being the busiest month. From 2018 to 2021; there was a 250–350% increase in scooter injuries, followed by a decrease in 2022 and 2023.
Our study reveals a notable trend of increased scooter-related orthopedic injuries in Istanbul, particularly during late afternoon and evening hours and on weekends. The seasonal peak in injuries supports the association between warmer weather and higher scooter use on holidays and days off. The observed increase in injuries followed by a more recent decline may reflect changes in mobility patterns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These results highlight the need for targeted preventive measures and safety interventions during peak times and seasons to reduce scooter-related injuries in urban settings.

本研究旨在分析土耳其伊斯坦布尔地区滑板车（scooter）事故导致的骨科损伤模式与特征，重点关注与时间、日期、季节及人口统计学因素相关的发病趋势。
我们对伊斯坦布尔某一级创伤中心（Level I trauma center）收治的375例滑板车相关损伤患者开展了回顾性分析（retrospective analysis），研究时段为2018年至2023年。研究人员按身体部位对损伤进行分类，并分析了治疗方式，包括手术干预需求及相关治疗成本。此外，本研究还对损伤的季节与时间分布特征进行了考察，重点关注入院高峰时段与周内发病天数。
本研究的研究对象共375例，其中男性250例（占比66.7%），女性125例（占比33.3%），平均年龄为22.6岁。多数损伤为低能量创伤（86.4%），仅13.6%由高能量创伤导致。上肢损伤患者占比最高（45.1%），其次为下肢损伤患者（26.9%）。57%的病例存在骨折，常见损伤包括腕手部骨折（17.1%）与肘部骨折（13.9%）。10.9%的患者需要接受手术干预，其余患者均采取保守治疗（conservative management）。骨折患者中，接受手术治疗者的平均治疗成本（602.28美元）显著高于保守治疗者（36.49美元，p=0.001）。研究发现入院高峰出现在晚间8:00，周一、周四、周六与周日的损伤发生率显著较高。5月至9月的入院人数有所增加，其中7月为就诊最繁忙的月份。2018年至2021年，滑板车相关损伤病例数增长250%至350%，2022年与2023年病例数有所下降。
本研究结果显示，伊斯坦布尔地区滑板车相关骨科损伤呈显著上升趋势，尤其在傍晚至晚间时段以及周末。损伤的季节高峰支持了温暖天气与假期、休息日滑板车使用量增加之间的关联。观察到的损伤病例数先升后降的趋势，或反映了新冠疫情（COVID-19 pandemic）带来的出行模式变化。本研究结果强调，需在高峰时段与季节采取针对性预防措施与安全干预手段，以降低城市环境中滑板车相关损伤的发生率。