Mechanisms and risk factors associated with spinal cord injury, facet fracture, and level of dislocation, in occupants with cervical spine dislocations sustained in motor vehicle crashes

Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are the leading cause of cervical spine dislocation. The mechanisms underlying this injury are unclear, limiting the development of injury prevention devices and strategies. MVC databases contain occupant, medical, vehicle, and crash details that are not routinely collected elsewhere, providing a unique resource for investigating injury mechanisms and risk factors. In this study, a comprehensive standalone analysis of cervical spine dislocations captured in MVC databases was performed. Epidemiologic, biomechanical, and injury data were extracted from three MVC databases. Logistic regression models were developed to determine the occupant, vehicle, and crash characteristics, as well as the global (inertial or impact) and regional (flexion, compression, etc.) loading mechanisms associated with the level of cervical spine dislocation (axial or sub-axial), and the occurrence of spinal cord injury (SCI) or facet fracture concomitant to dislocation. There was no association between global or regional injury mechanisms and the level of cervical spine dislocation. Sub-axial dislocations were typically due to head/face impact with the airbag or upper interior components, or a result of seatbelt restraint of the torso. Higher occupant age, lower BMI, partial/no ejection, and frontal and side configuration crashes (compared to rollovers) were associated with a higher likelihood of sub-axial, versus axial, dislocation. Amongst all dislocations, an increased likelihood of SCI was associated with impact injuries, airbag non-deployment, and complete ejection, while concomitant facet fracture was associated with the presence of regional compression. Severe crashes, partial ejections, and “utility vehicles” and “vans and trucks” (compared with “passenger vehicles”) were associated with a higher risk of facet fracture concomitant to sub-axial dislocation. The findings of this study may be used to inform the loading modes to be simulated in future ex vivo or computational models seeking a better understanding of cervical spine dislocations.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2024.2378133
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/49192340
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2024 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. 2024. Abstract reprinted with permission of Taylor & Francis.
• Authors:
  • Foroutan, Parham
  • Quarrington, Ryan D
  • Jones, Claire F
• Publication Date: 2024-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 1129-1136
• Serial:
  • Traffic Injury Prevention
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue Number: 8
  • Publisher: Taylor & Francis
  • ISSN: 1538-9588
  • Serial URL: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/15389588.html

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash characteristics; Crash injuries; Fractures (Anatomy); Injury severity; Medical records; Risk assessment; Spinal column; Spinal cord
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01943860
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 27 2025 3:11PM