The dynamic behaviour of the head and cervical spine during "whiplash"

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McKenzie, J. A.¹; Williams, J. F.²

The dynamic behaviour of the head and cervical spine during “whiplash”

J Biomech. December 1971;4(6):477-490

Affiliations

¹Army Design Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

²Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Abstract

Using the method of Orne and Liu (1971) a discrete-parameter model of the head, neck and torso has been developed to allow investigation of the ‘whiplash’ problem. Following a 5g acceleration pulse applied to the seat base it was found that some degree of initial flexion of the head relative to the torso occurred prior to rapid hyperextension. The degree of initial flexion was found to increase with decreasing seatback stiffness. Head, horizontal and rotational acceleration profiles revealed that the peak values reached displayed a similar relationship to seatback stiffness. An examination of the loading distribution in the cervical spine showed that maximums were reached during the hyperextension phase and were of greatest magnitude in the low cervical region. These forces were larger and consequently more damaging for seatbacks of decreasing stiffness characteristics.
Links

DOI: 10.1016/0021-9290(71)90038-8

PubMed: 5162570

WoS: A1971L304000001
History

Received: 1971-06-01

Cited Works (8)

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Cited By (29)

Year	Entry
1975	Melvin JW, Mohan D, Stalnaker RL. Occupant injury assessment criteria. In: SAE Automobile Engineering and Manufacturing Meeting; 1975. SAE 750914.
1973	Williams JF, McKenzie JA. The effect of seatback stiffness and collision severity on the dynamic behaviour of the head during “whiplash”. In: Proceedings of the 1973 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. June 26-27, 1973; Amsterdam, The Netherlands.329-338.
1990	Olsson I, Bunketorp O, Carlsson G, Gustafsson C, Planath I, Norin H, Ysander L. An in-depth study of neck injuries in rear end collisions. In: Proceedings of the 1990 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 12-14, 1990; Lyon, France.269-278.
1998	Krafft M. A comparison of short- and long-term consequences of AIS 1 neck injuries, in rear impacts. In: Proceedings of the 1998 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 16-18, 1998; Göteberg, Sweden.235-248.
1985	Carlsson G, Nilsson S, Nilsson-Ehle A, Norin H, Ysander L, Örtengren R. Neck injuries in rear end car collisions: biomechanical considerations to improve head restraints. In: Proceedings of the 1985 International IRCOBI/AAAM Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 24-26, 1985; Göteborg, Sweden.277-289.
1993	McConnell WE, Howard RP, Guzman HM, Bomar JB, Raddin JH, Benedict JV, Smith HL, Hatsell CP. Analysis of human test subject kinematic responses to low velocity rear end impacts. In: Proceedings of the SAE International Congress & Exposition. March 1-5, 1993; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:21-30. SAE 930889.
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1973	Begeman PC, King AI, Prasad P. Spinal loads resulting from -Gx acceleration. In: Proceedings of the 17th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 17-19, 1973; Coronado, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:343-360. SAE 730977.
1994	Matsushita T, Sato TB, Hirabayashi K, Fujimura S, Asazuma T, Takatori T. X-ray study of the human neck motion due to head inertia loading. In: Proceedings of the 38th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 31–November 2, 1994; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:55-64. SAE 942208.
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1976	King AI, Chou CC. Mathematical modelling, simulation and experimental testing of biomechanical system crash response. J Biomech. 1976;9(5):301-317.
1983	Williams JL, Belytschko TB. A three-dimensional model of the human cervical spine for impact simulation. J Biomech Eng. November 1983;105(4):321-331.
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1997	Grauer JN, Panjabi MM, Cholewicki J, Nibu K, Dvorak J. Whiplash produces an S-shaped curvature of the neck with hyperextension at lower levels. Spine. November 1997;22(21):2489-2494.
1998	Panjabi MM, Cholewicki J, Nibu K, Babat LB, Dvorak J. Simulation of whiplash trauma using whole cervical spine specimens. Spine. January 1998;23(1):17-24.
2004	Ito S, Ivancic PC, Panjabi MM, Cunningham BW. Soft tissue injury threshold during simulated whiplash: a biomechanical investigation. Spine. May 1, 2004;29(9):979-987.
2002	Krafft M. When do AIS 1 neck injuries result in long-term consequences? vehicle and human factors. Traffic Inj Prev. 2002;3(2):89-97.
1994	Nilson G. Effects of Seat and Seat-Belt Design on Car Occupant Response in Frontal and Rear Impacts: A Study Combining Mechanical and Mathematical Modelling [PhD thesis]. Götenburg, Sweden: Chalmers University of Technology; 1994.
1985	Yoganandan N. Mechanical Factors and the Threshold of Trauma of the Intervertebral Joint: A Finite Element Analysis With Experimental Validation [PhD thesis]. Marquette University; December 1985.
1997	Duncan NA. The Mechanics of Curve Progression in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis [PhD thesis]. McGill University; February 1997.
1981	Williams JL. A Three-Dimensional Head-Neck Model for Impact Acceleration Studies [PhD thesis]. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University; August 1981.
2000	Golinski WZ. Three-Dimensional Dynamic Modelling Cervical Spine Human of the in Whiplash Situations [PhD thesis]. Nottingham, UK: Nottingham Trent University; November 2000.
2004	Mordaka JK. Finite Element Analysis of Whiplash Injury for Women [PhD thesis]. Nottingham, UK: Nottingham Trent University; September 2004.
2007	Bazrgari B. Biodynamic of the Human Spine [PhD thesis]. École polytechnique de Montréal; February 2007.
2001	Hasselquist L. The Neurophysiologic Mechanisms of the Cervical Spine During Whiplash [PhD thesis]. University of Iowa; December 2001.
1976	Tennyson SA. The Response of Spinal Musculature During +G_Z Acceleration [PhD thesis]. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University; 1976.
1977	Begeman PC. The Effect of Energy Absorbing Devices on Spinal Loads Resulting from -G_X Acceleration [PhD thesis]. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University; 1977.