Motion analysis of human cervical vertebrae during low-speed rear impacts by the simulated sled

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Ono, Koshiro¹; Kaneoka, Koji²

Motion analysis of human cervical vertebrae during low-speed rear impacts by the simulated sled

J Crash Prev Injury Control. 1999;1(2):87-99

©1999 OPA (Overseas Publishers Association) N.V.

Affiliations

¹Japan Automobile Research Institute

²Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
Abstract and keywords

In an attempt to better understand the mechanism of motion of human cervical vertebrae during low-speed impacts, the motion of the cervical vertebrae was analyzed using conditions such as the sitting position and the seat performance characteristics. A new impact sled was developed which simulated actual car impact acceleration. Ten volunteers participated in the experiment. Test speeds of 2, 4, and 6 km/h were selected. Two types of seat performance were used; a conventional car seat and a rigid wooden seat. Cineradiography recorded the motion of the cervical vertebrae at impact.

The test results showed that a downward and rearward extension motion of C3 compared to C6 occurred and the cervical spine was compressed in an early stage of impact. Moreover, it was found that when the seat was rigid and speeds were increased, the ramping-up motion of the body of the subject and neck compression were more typical. The vertebral motion was analyzed and then compared with the differences between crash motion and normal motion. Based on this study, it is concluded that compressive vertical motion plays an important role in minor neck injuries.

Keywords: Rear impact, motion analysis, cervical vertebrae, biomechanics, cineradiography, injury mechanism, neck compression
Links

DOI: 10.1080/10286589908915746
History

Received: 1997-10-22

Accepted: 1998-04-23

Online: 2007-04-27

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Cited By (4)

Year	Entry
2013	Park S-J, Yang K, Lee H-S, Park N-K, Hong SW, Yoo J-H, Kim H. A study of impact on head and neck using human volunteer low-speed rear impact tests [in Korean]. Korean J Leg Med. May 2013;37(2):66-72.
2018	John JD, Yoganandan N, Arun MWJ, Saravana Kumar G. Contribution of forces and morphology to segmental rotation during combined loading of cervical spine: investigation using parametric finite element models. In: Proceedings of the 2018 International IRCOBI Asia Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. April 25-28, 2018; Lonavala, India.72-75.
2023	Soltan Mohammadzadeh N. Cervical Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure in an in-Vivo Porcine Model of Simulated Whiplash Loading [Master's thesis]. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia; July 2023.
2010	Fice JB. Numerical Modeling of Whiplash Injury [Master's thesis]. University of Waterloo; 2010.