Fracture /dislocation of the upper cervical spine during motor vehicle collision: Biomechanics and implications for occupant protection.

Unlike the thoracic and lumbar areas, the cervical spine is much more vulnerable to injury during vehicle collision whether frontal, side, rear- end, or roll- over. Fracture dislocation of the cervical spine involves a high risk of injury to the spinal cord that can result in partial or complete quadriplegia. Cervical spine fracture at the highest level (C1- C2) with cord trauma is usually fatal. Various motor vehicle collisions in which occupants have sustained these potentially serious upper cervical spine fracture /dislocations are investigated.