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Experimental impact injury to the cervical spine: relating motion of the head and the mechanism of injury.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nightingale, RW; McElhaney, JH; Richardson, WJ; Best, TM; Myers, BS
Published in: J Bone Joint Surg Am
March 1996

The purpose of this study was to analyze, with use of an impact model, the relationships among motion of the head, local deformations of the cervical spine, and the mechanisms of injury; the model consisted of the head and neck of a cadaver. Traditionally, the mechanisms of injury to the cervical spine have been associated with flexion and extension motions of the head and neck. However, the classification of the mechanisms is not always in agreement with the patient's account of the injury or with lacerations and contusions of the scalp, which indicate the site of the impact of the head. Eleven specimens were dropped in an inverted posture with the head and neck in an anatomically neutral position. Forces, moments, and accelerations were recorded, and the impacts were imaged at 1000 frames per second. The velocity at the time of impact was on the order of 3.2 meters per second. The angle and the padding of the impact surface varied. Observable motion of the head did not correspond to the mechanism of the injury to the cervical spine. Injury occurred 2.2 to 18.8 milliseconds after impact and before noticeable motion of the head. However, the classification of the mechanism of the injuries was descriptive of the local deformations of the cervical spine at the time of the injury. Accordingly, it is a useful tool in describing the local mechanism of injury. Buckling of the cervical spine, involving extension between the third and sixth cervical vertebrae and flexion between the seventh and eight cervical vertebrae, was observed. Other, more complex, buckling deformations were also seen, suggesting that the deformations that occur during impact are so complex that they can give rise to a number of different mechanisms of injury.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Bone Joint Surg Am

DOI

ISSN

0021-9355

Publication Date

March 1996

Volume

78

Issue

3

Start / End Page

412 / 421

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Spinal Injuries
  • Spinal Fractures
  • Radiography
  • Orthopedics
  • Motion
  • Models, Anatomic
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Nightingale, R. W., McElhaney, J. H., Richardson, W. J., Best, T. M., & Myers, B. S. (1996). Experimental impact injury to the cervical spine: relating motion of the head and the mechanism of injury. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 78(3), 412–421. https://doi.org/10.2106/00004623-199603000-00013
Nightingale, R. W., J. H. McElhaney, W. J. Richardson, T. M. Best, and B. S. Myers. “Experimental impact injury to the cervical spine: relating motion of the head and the mechanism of injury.J Bone Joint Surg Am 78, no. 3 (March 1996): 412–21. https://doi.org/10.2106/00004623-199603000-00013.
Nightingale RW, McElhaney JH, Richardson WJ, Best TM, Myers BS. Experimental impact injury to the cervical spine: relating motion of the head and the mechanism of injury. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1996 Mar;78(3):412–21.
Nightingale, R. W., et al. “Experimental impact injury to the cervical spine: relating motion of the head and the mechanism of injury.J Bone Joint Surg Am, vol. 78, no. 3, Mar. 1996, pp. 412–21. Pubmed, doi:10.2106/00004623-199603000-00013.
Nightingale RW, McElhaney JH, Richardson WJ, Best TM, Myers BS. Experimental impact injury to the cervical spine: relating motion of the head and the mechanism of injury. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1996 Mar;78(3):412–421.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Bone Joint Surg Am

DOI

ISSN

0021-9355

Publication Date

March 1996

Volume

78

Issue

3

Start / End Page

412 / 421

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Spinal Injuries
  • Spinal Fractures
  • Radiography
  • Orthopedics
  • Motion
  • Models, Anatomic
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female