Depending on the extent and severity of the external load vector applied during the crash event, different types of injuries can occur to the human neck structure. Commonly encountered cervical injuries are classified into noncontact related (inertial loading) and contact related (with head impact) trauma. For example, cervical spine injuries resulting from a low speed, rear-end vehicular-collision caused by inertial loading are often considered to be of the noncontact type. In contrast, injuries arising from contact of the human head with the vehicular interior or the exterior surfaces belong to the contact category. Bony damage such as burst and wedge fractures associated with the disruption of the posterior ligaments are typical examples of contact induced neck injuries in a motor vehicle environment. This paper focuses on the correlation between the loading mechanisms and biomechanical quantities associated with cervical spine injury due to head impact. (A)
Abstract