Orthopedic injuries due to hoverboard use, reported in the NEISS database, 2015-2022.
Background: Hoverboards are a popular means of recreation in the United States and are associated with significant injury risk, leading to recent efforts to improve their safety. Prior studies on hoverboard-related injuries were either conducted prior to implementation of safety regulations, consisted of short study intervals, or did not place a focus on injuries as they pertain to the orthopedic specialist. The purpose of this study is to provide an updated assessment of the epidemiology of orthopedic hoverboard-related injuries presenting to US emergency departments.
Methods: A retrospective analysis from 2015 to 2022 of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database was conducted, limited to product codes detailing hoverboard-related injuries leading to emergency department visits. Diagnoses of interest included fractures, dislocations, contusions/abrasions, and strains/sprains. Diagnoses were further broken down to analyze anatomic region affected. National estimates (NE) were calculated using survey methods. One-way ANOVA and chi square tests were used to test for changes over time in injuries, age, and gender.
Results: 4,718 total hoverboard-related injuries were captured, with a national estimate of 154,121. The majority of patients were under 18 years old (79.6 %; P < 0.001) and female (52.5 %; P = 0.038). Orthopedic injuries accounted for 68.6 % of the total, with no significant year-by-year change in this proportion (P = 0.069). Fractures were the most common orthopedic injury (64.2 %), followed by contusions/abrasions (20.2 %), strains/sprains (14.6 %), and dislocations (1.0 %). Most fractures affected the forearm (33.8 %) followed by the wrist (29.2 %). Injuries peaked in 2018 (NE = 25,192) and 2020 (NE = 24,958), followed by a decline in incidence more recently.
Conclusions: Hoverboard-related injuries continue to be a common presentation to US emergency departments, though injury rates appear to be decreasing. Orthopedic injuries consistently account for the majority of hoverboard-related injuries reporting to emergency departments, with fractures of the forearm and wrist being most common. Continued efforts toward improving safety measures regarding hoverboard use are warranted.