This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Biomechanical Aspects of Cervical Spine Injuries
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
Traffic accident statistics as well as figures from insurance companies indicate an increasing importance of cervical spine injuries. Despite this fact, biomechanical and clinical assessment of these injuries (often classified “minor”) is often compromised by a confusion between the actual findings of the medical examination (for example, distortion, luxation, “soft tissue neck injury”, neck sprain, or other often barely discernible injuries) on one hand and the mechanisms leading to these injuries, such as (hyper-)-flexion, -extension, -translation, or compression, on the other hand. The still widespread, yet misleading, usage of the term “whiplash” is a classical example thereof. A subdivision of the criteria in terms of “accident severity” into four classes, for example dynamic loading of the car, biomechanical loading of the occupant, clinically diagnosable injuries, and subjective sequelae for the victim, is proposed. The cervical spine injury mechanisms known to date are presented. The role of shear forces in the upper cervical articulations (C0-C2) as a possible cause for neck injuries in car impacts is discussed as well as its implications on the design of better car seats, for example with automatically positioned head restraints.
Recommended Content
Authors
Citation
Walz, F. and Muser, M., "Biomechanical Aspects of Cervical Spine Injuries," SAE Technical Paper 950658, 1995, https://doi.org/10.4271/950658.Also In
Advances in Occupant Protection Technologies for the Mid-Nineties
Number: SP-1077; Published: 1995-02-01
Number: SP-1077; Published: 1995-02-01
References
- Dvorak J Valach L Schmid S 1987
- Carlson G Nilsson St Nilsson A Norin H Ysander L Oertengren R Neck Injuries in rear end car collisions IRCOBI-proceedings 277 89 1985
- Lövsund P. Nygren A. et al. Neck Injuries in Rear End Collisions among Front and Rear Seat Occupants Proceedings IRCOBI-Conference 319 25 1988
- Ono K Kanno M Influence of the Physical Parameters on the Risk to Neck Injuries in Low Impact Speed Rear End Collisions Proceedings IRCOBI Conference Eindhoven 201 12 1993
- Saczalski KJ Syson StR Hille RA Pozzi MC Field Accident Evaluations and Experimental Study of Seat Back Performance Relative to Rear Impact Occupant Protection SAE SP-963 Seat Systems, SAE 930346 151 76 1993
- Svensson MY Lövsund P Haland Y Laesson S The influence of seat-back and head rerstraint properties on the head-neck motion during rear impact Proceedings IRCOBI Conference Eindhoven 395 406 1993
- Emori R I Horiguchi J Whiplash in Low Speed Vehicle Collisions SAE 900542 103 8 1990
- Moorahrend U. 1993
- Walz F 23 4 262 7 1994
- Walz F Meine J 87 2 71 85 1994
- Penning L Eur Spine J 1 7 19 1992
- Penning L 23 4 268 77 1994
- Nilson G Lövsund P Thorngren L Haland Y Svensson SE The potential injury reducing benefits of a well designed car seat Proceedings IRCOBI Conference Eindhoven 421 32 1993
- Svensson MY Lövsund P A Dummy for Rear-End Collisions IRCOBI-proceedings 299 310 1992
- Scott MW McConnell WE Guzman HM et al. Comparison of Human ATD Head Kinematics During Low-Spees Rear End Impacts SAE SP-945 Human Surrogates, SAE 930094 1993
- McConnell WE Howard RP Guzman HM et al. Analysis of human test subject kinematic responses to low velocity rear end impact 21 30 SAE 930889 1993
- Geigl BC Steffan H Leinzinger P Roll P et al The movement of the head and cervical spine during rear end impact IRCOBI conference, Lyon, proceedings 127 38 1994
- Freienbach 1994
- 1987
- Hinoki M 1985
- Wilson VJ Physiological properties and central actions of neck muscle spindels. Berthoz A /Ed.): The head-neck sensory motor system Oxford University Press New York 175 8 1992
- Neuhuber WL 23 4 256 74 1994
- Availability and (proper) adjustment of head restraints in the Netherlands Proceedings IRCOBI Conference Eindhoven 367 78 1993
- Muser M Dippel Ch Walz F Neck Injury Prevention by Automatically Positioned Head Restrait. Advances in Occupant Restraint Technologies Joint IRCOBI & AAAM conference session, Lyon, proceedings 145 57 1994
- Blaisdell DM Levitt AE Varat MS Automotive Seat Design Concepts for Occupant Protection SAE SP-963 Seat Systems, SAE 930340 109 19 1993
- Digges KH Morris JH Malliard AC Safety Performance of Motor Vehicle Seats SAE SP-963 Seat Systems, SAE 930348 183 91 1993
- Foret-Bruno JY Tarriere C Influence of Seat and Head Rest Stiffness on the Risk of Cervical Injuries in Rear Impact 13th Internat. Techn. Conf. on Experimental Safety Vehicles Paris 1991
- Warner ChY Stother ChE et al Occupant Protection in Rear End Collisions: The Role of Seat Back Deformation in Injury Reduction SAE 912914 379 90 1991
- Ewing CL Thomas DJ Lustick L Becker E Willems G The Effect of the Initial Position of the Head and Neck on the Dynamic Response of the Human Head and Neck to -Gx Impact Acceleration Proceedings 19th Stapp Cra Crash Conference San Diego 487 512 1975
- Walz F. Zollinger U. Seat Belt Induced Injuries. In “Automotive Engineering and Litigation” GA Peters PJ 93 112 Garland Verlag, New York 1983
- Huelke DF Mackay GM Bradford M Cervical fractures and fracture-dislocations without head impact sustained by restrained occupants 36th Annual Proceedings, Assoc. Advancement of Automotive Medicine Portland, Oregon 1 23 1992
- Niederer P Walz F Zollinger U Adverse Effects of Seat Belts and Causes of Belt Failures in Severe Car Accidents in Switzerland during 1976 Proceedings 21st Stapp Car Crash Conference 53 94 1977