E-scooter injuries rising sharply, says jaw surgeon

Accidents involving electric scooters have increased dramatically in recent years, with a jaw surgeon and professor warning of a steep rise in serious facial injuries, SVT Nyheter reports. The warning comes after a young man died in an e-scooter accident in Östersund on Monday.

According to data from the Swedish Transport Administration, eight people were injured in e-scooter-related accidents in 2016. By 2024, that figure had risen to 4,407, with five fatalities recorded in the same year.

Andreas Thor, a jaw surgeon and professor at Uppsala University, says the increase is clearly visible in clinical practice.

“It is clear. A new patient group appeared and gave us jaw surgeons a great deal of work,” Thor told SVT’s news programme Aktuellt.

Jaws particularly vulnerable

Thor says e-scooter accidents frequently result in injuries to the arms and ankles, but that the jaw is especially at risk.

“You are standing upright and very unprotected. The head is where it is, and you often hit yourself very hard,” he said.

“The fractures you sustain often become very complex,” he added.

Thor notes that many accidents occur late at night and involve alcohol. “It leaves scars and lasting damage. It requires a lot of care and surgery, and the teeth often suffer. If you are wearing a helmet, the skull is protected, but the face is very exposed,” he said.

Thor called for stronger intervention, suggesting that police may need to step up their efforts to address the trend.