Citation

Stemper BD, Pintar FA, Rao RD. Spine 2011; 36(25 Suppl): S180-6.

Affiliation

*Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin †VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI ‡Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/BRS.0b013e3182387d98

PMID

22101749

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN.: Review of peer-reviewed literature. OBJECTIVE.: Outline the effects of neck and cervical spine morphology on soft tissue injury Potential during low velocity automotive rear impacts. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: Automotive rear impacts are mechanical events and the response of the human head-neck complex can be thought of in biomechanical terms. This manuscript reviews evidence from peer-reviewed studies implicating occupant-related factors in the onset and severity of cervical spine soft-tissue injury. METHODS.: Effects of anatomical characteristics, head-neck and spine orientation, facet joints, and neck muscles were reviewed. RESULTS.: On the basis of existing biomechanically based research, the following occupant-related characteristics can influence the response of the cervical spine during automotive rear impacts: anatomical dimensions of the cervical spine, head-neck and cervical spine orientation at the time of impact, facet joint orientation, and neck muscle size and orientation. CONCLUSION.: The response of the cervical spine to rear impacts can be described using biomechanical concepts. This review has identified occupant-related factors that can influence injury susceptibility and cited biomechanically related research to outline the method by which those factors affect the overall head-neck and cervical spine response in such a way as to increase the susceptibility or severity of injury for a given rear impact event.

Language: en