EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WHIPLASH KINEMATICS AND A DIRECT NEUROLOGIC INJURY MECHANISM

Despite the prevalence of whiplash-related injuries, a connection between clinical symptoms and injury mechanism has been elusive. Previous studies have attempted to correlate the whiplash kinematic response to injury mechanisms; however, none has specifically examined the potential for neurologic involvement due to foraminal occlusion. This biomechanical study measured cadaver cervical spine whiplash kinematics and compared these with changes in the neural space geometry of the cervical spine, providing a measure of the direct neurologic injury potential. Extension and shear displacements of each cervical level were measured and found to be similar to that reported in the literature and within the tissue's physiologic limits. Further, changes to the spinal canal and intervertebral foraminal geometry were recorded during whiplash and cross-sectional area changes were documented (up to 15.3%). Because these foraminal occlusions were smaller in magnitude than those resulting from normal cervical motion, our findings do not support direct neurologic injury resulting from segmental vertebral kinematics as a whiplash injury mechanism. (A)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/14775360
• Corporate Authors:

  Inderscience Enterprises Limited

  World Trade Center Building, 110 Avenue Louis Casai
  Geneva,   Switzerland 
• Authors:
  • Nuckley, D J
  • VAN NAUSDLE, J A
  • RAYNAK, G C
  • Eck, M P
  • PERRY, C E
  • HARRINGTON, R M
  • Ching, R P
• Publication Date: 2003

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 68-83
• Serial:
  • International Journal of Vehicle Design
  • Volume: 32
  • Issue Number: 1/2
  • Publisher: Inderscience Enterprises Limited
  • ISSN: 1477-5360
  • Serial URL: http://www.inderscience.com/jhome.php?jcode=IJVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Biophysics; Cadavers; Crash severity; Crashes; Head; Injuries; Injury severity; Vertebrae
• ITRD Terms: 1643: Accident; 2060: Biomechanics; 2093: Cadaver; 2040: Cervical vertebrae; 2163: Injury; 1623: Severity (accid, injury)
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00962743
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Sep 3 2003 12:00AM