Jerry Tsang, Queen Mary University of London
A man in his 30s arrived at the Royal London Major Trauma Centre after what sounded like a relatively minor cycling accident. He had been riding a shared ebike when he lost control and fell. By the time I met him, scans had revealed a complex fracture around his ankle where his shinbone (tibia) had pierced through his skin. He would need multiple surgeries to fix his broken bone and grafting of his skin and muscles, followed by many months of rehabilitation and a prolonged period away from work.
Cases like this are becoming increasingly familiar. Colleagues in trauma centres across several countries have described seeing similar injuries after accidents involving shared ebikes. Some people have begun referring to the pattern informally as “Lime bike leg”.
The term is not a medical diagnosis. Rather, it describes severe injuries affecting the leg, ankle and knee following crashes involving shared ebikes. While the name comes from one of the world’s largest shared ebike operators, the injuries are not unique to any particular company. They appear to be associated with the rapid growth of shared ebike use.
Most people think of cycling injuries as cuts, bruises or perhaps a broken wrist. The injuries being described as “Lime bike leg” are often much more serious. Common examples include fractures of the tibia, dislocations of the knee or ankle and severe skin and muscle loss.
One reason these injuries stand out is how they occur: ebikes are considerably heavier than conventional bicycles, often weighing around 30kg, and accelerate more rapidly. When riders lose control, the bicycle can fall on to the leg or trap it against the ground, creating twisting and crushing forces that are uncommon with lighter bikes. Some of the resulting injuries resemble those more often seen in motorcycle crashes.
Part of the explanation is straightforward: many more people are riding ebikes than ever before. Shared ebike schemes have expanded rapidly across cities in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. Ebicycles are now one of the fastest-growing forms of urban transport.
As usage has increased, so too have injuries. In London, shared ebike users now account for about 20% of serious cycling casualties, compared with about 1% less than a decade ago.
A recent US study examining almost 14,000 injuries involving bicycles, ebikes and escooters found that ebike injuries doubled between 2021 and 2022. Around 15% of injured riders required admission to hospital, while fractures were the most common injury sustained. About one-third of ebike injuries involved a collision with a motor vehicle.
These figures need context. The overwhelming majority of journeys end safely. Lime reports that more than 99.99% of rides are completed without incident. Yet when millions of journeys are made each year, even a very small risk per ride can translate into a substantial number of serious injuries.
Research suggests that severe injuries are more strongly associated with factors such as older age, alcohol use and collisions with motor vehicles than with the type of bicycle itself. Once these factors are taken into account, injured ebike riders are no more likely to require hospital admission than conventional cyclists.
That finding shifts attention towards the circumstances of the crash. Many serious injuries occur when riders are unfamiliar with the handling characteristics of ebikes. Others happen when speed is too high for conditions, particularly on wet roads, uneven surfaces or crowded streets.
Treatment depends on the injury. Minor soft-tissue injuries, involving ligaments and muscles, can often be managed with rest and physiotherapy. Fractures are a different matter, often requiring surgery using metal plates, screws, or rods to stabilise the broken bones and grafts to replace the damaged skin and muscle.
Recovery is rarely quick. Patients may spend weeks walking with crutches and many months, often years, rebuilding strength and confidence. Some continue to experience pain, stiffness or reduced mobility long after the fracture has healed.
Many of these injuries are potentially preventable. Riders who are new to ebikes should recognise that they handle differently from conventional bicycles. The extra weight affects braking, cornering and balance – particularly at low speeds.
Many serious crashes occur without another vehicle being involved. Avoiding mobile phone use while riding and taking extra care in wet conditions may be just as important as watching out for traffic. Alcohol also features disproportionately in studies of ebike injuries.
Helmets will not prevent a broken leg. They can, however, reduce the risk of head injury, which remains one of the most common and potentially devastating consequences of cycling crashes.
“Lime bike leg” remains an informal label rather than a recognised diagnosis. Yet behind the nickname lies a genuine clinical observation. As shared ebikes become a routine part of city life around the world, trauma surgeons are seeing a new pattern of injury emerge alongside them.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
(The Conversation/HG)