Citation

Frechede B, Bertholon N, Saillant G, Lavaste F, Skalli W. Comput. Methods Biomech. Biomed. Eng. 2006; 9(6): 379-386.

Affiliation

Laboratoire de BioMécanique, ENSAM CER de Paris, 151, Boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013, Paris, France. b.frechede@unsw.edu.au

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10255840600980940

PMID

17145672

Abstract

A detailed 3D FE model of the human neck was used to assess a possible relationship between risk of injury and cervical spine curvature for various impacts. A FE model was previously developed, representing the head and neck of a 50th percentile human with a normal lordotic curvature. The model behaviour was omni-directionally validated for various impacts using published results. For the present study, the model was deformed in order to obtain a straight and a kyphotic curvature, and for each geometry, rear-end, frontal, lateral and oblique impact were simulated. Although results showed similar kinematic patterns, significant differences were found in the distribution and peak values of ligament elongations, forces and moments along the cervical spine for the three configurations. It was concluded that the variability observed on the curvature of the human cervical spine may have a significant influence both on the behaviour and on the risk of injury of the neck during impact.

Language: en