The pediatric cervical spine differs considerably from the adult in both its geometry and its constitutive properties. Therefore, it is susceptible to a different set of injuries, some of which are particularly severe. Recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data on cervical spine injuries in low speed out-of-position airbag deployments shows that the spectrum of injuries in children is different from that of the adult. Almost all of the children (98%) sustained head or cervical spine injuries, as compared to only 38% of the adults. In addition, the injuries in children were not gender dependent, while injuries in adults occurred in females 72% of the time. The specific loads which result in these injuries are still unclear; however, examination of the biomechanical data for the adult may yield some insights. This examination also points to the need for additional biomechanical testing in order to define tolerances for pediatric cervical spine injury. (A)
Samenvatting