title: Motorised mobility scooters; upper limb fractures in elderly novice users.
abstract: We describe three upper limb injuries admitted in one year to our institution resulting from falls from motorised mobility scooters (MMS) where all three users were novices, using their MMS for less than 6 weeks. They sustained injuries in close proximity to their homes, necessitating admission to hospital. None had received any formal training before commencing use of their respective devices. Use of MMS devices increases independence in mobility, enhances quality of life, improves self-esteem, facilitating social participation in everyday life. Use of these devices is not without risks, and no clear safety guidelines or competency testing exists for users. We believe these injuries in novice users highlights this deficiency, and should alert prescribers of these devices to advocate some form of driver training for new users.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Colin G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ian G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Kieran S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: O'Rourke
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Kieran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Shea
keywords: elderly; fracture; motorised mobility scooters; orthopaedics; rehabilitation; trauma