[Pedelec users get more severely injured compared to conventional cyclists]. / Pedelec-Fahrer werden bei Unfällen schwerer verletzt als konventionelle Radfahrer.

BACKGROUND: For years e­bike (Pedelec) sales have been steadily increasing. Therefore, the incidence of e­bike-related injuries and deaths has been growing. Due to clinical experience, emergency personnel are suspecting that e­bikers might be injured more severely compared to conventional bicyclists suffering from an accident. This topic has not yet been analyzed for Germany. OBJECTIVE: Analysis of injury severity and mortality following e­bike and conventional bicycle accidents in a level I trauma center in Germany. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data of patients treated after a bicycle accident at the accident and emergency department as well as the clinic for traumatology and orthopedics of the Evangelical Hospital (Evangelisches Krankenhaus) Oldenburg were gathered from 1 March 2017 to 1 March 2019. RESULTS: In this study 59 electric bicycle users (e-bikers) and 164 conventional cyclists were included. The average age of e­bikers was 62 years compared to 48 years in the group of conventional cyclists. Comorbidities were significantly more frequent in the e­bike group compared to classical cyclists. The e­bikers were found to be significantly more severely injured than conventional bicyclists, the mean injury severity scores (ISS) were 5.2 and 3.4, respectively. E­bikers were admitted to the hospital more often and for longer periods than the control group. There was no significant difference in mortality. CONCLUSION: E­bikers are more severely injured in accidents compared to conventional cyclists. Due to older age and comorbidity they form a sensitive trauma subgroup. Based on demographics, an increase of old age, more frail cyclists and a growing incidence of serious e­bike accidents is to be expected. Preventive measures, such as helmet usage and riding lessons should be introduced, especially in e­bikers. E­bikers in the emergency department should be examined and treated with special care and aggressive diagnostics. A low threshold for an initial interdisciplinary assessment (shock room management) is advised.

[E-bikers are more often seriously injured in bicycle accidents: results from the Groningen bicycle accident database]. / E-bikers raken vaker ernstig gewond na fietsongeval.

OBJECTIVE: Analysing injury types, injury severity and mortality in victims of accidents with electric bicycles in comparison with conventional bicycles. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHOD: Data of patients treated at the Accident & Emergency Department of the University Medical Center Groningen after a bicycle accident are being entered in a database since 2014. We have analysed this database for accidents with electric bicycles (e-bikes) and conventional bicycles occurring among adult patients for the period of July 2014 to May 2016. 'Propensity score matching' was used to match e-bikers to conventional cyclists, based on age, gender and the presence of comorbidities. RESULTS: 107 of the 475 included victims were riding an e-bike. Average age of e-bikers and conventional cyclists was 65 years and 39 years respectively. Comorbidity was more common in e-bikers. E-bikers were injured significantly more severely than conventional cyclists. They had more severe injuries of the head and face, and upper and lower extremities. E-bikers were also admitted to the hospital more often, and for longer periods, and they underwent surgery more often. Mortality was the same. Propensity score matching revealed that e-bikers had multiple severe injuries (ISS > 15) twice as often as conventional cyclists, that they had more severe head injuries and were admitted for longer periods than conventional cyclists. CONCLUSION: E-bikers who had a bicycle accident had more severe injuries, more frequently had multiple injuries and had more severe head injuries than conventional cyclists. This resulted in a greater need for care. Preventive measures such as riding lessons and helmet use should be encouraged. Care providers should pay extra attention to the possibility of severe injuries when a patient had a bicycle accident with an e-bike.