Citation

Bilston LE, Thibault LE. Int. J. Crashworthiness 1997; 2(2): 207-218.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper describes the construction and validation of a physical model of the human cervical spinal column. The model incorporates a model spinal cord whose deformation may be measured during a simulated impact. The mechanical properties of the model spinal cord and the detailed kinematics of the spinal column were validated against human data in both flexion and extension. The model was then tested in simulated hyperflexion and hyperextension injuries and the cord strains and strain rates measured. In flexion, the strains were found to be in excess of critical values for isolated neural tissue damage. In extension the strains were found to be smaller, and less likely to cause injury in the absence of bony fracture or subluxation.

Language: en