Citation

Starks I, Henderson B, Hill M, Wade R. Inj. Extra 2008; 39(5): 173-173.

Affiliation

University Hospital North Staffordshire, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.injury.2007.11.330

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The neck is at more risk in a rear shunt accident due to the relative displacement of the body and head. The low back is more restrained and theoretically at less risk. We aimed to assess the displacement of the low back in a low speed collision. A series of controlled low speed crash simulations were undertaken during 2005. Accelerometers were applied to the head, chest and low back of six volunteers. Acceleration at each of these sites was recorded throughout the duration of the crash. This was compared with video footage of the crash simulation. Whilst much has been published on "whiplash" in relation to low speed collisions, the scientific literature contains little in relation to low back injury. In this study the results clearly demonstrate that the lower back experiences the least acceleration of the back/chest/head components. It is generally accepted that in order for injury to occur then there must be sufficient displacement/acceleration for the injury mechanism to be triggered. These results clearly raise the question of whether the low back can be injured in such impacts and highlight the need for further research in this area.