BIOMECHANICS OF CERVICAL SPINE WHIPLASH INJURIES

颈椎损伤多为软组织损伤， 不是椎骨骨折。 有软组织的事故受害者 已知受伤后多年仍有残余疼痛， 事故 拟议研究的总体目标是 更好地了解这些损伤的机制 突然加速/减速引起的颈椎损伤 头部相对于躯干，所谓的挥鞭 受伤 现有的研究使用的是整具尸体， 人体模型和数学模型来模拟 造成伤害的事件。 创伤事件是从外部研究的 而不是在颈椎受伤的部位。 的 拟议研究的独特之处在于它能够直接 在创伤过程中研究受伤的部位 新鲜尸体 将使用标本（枕骨至T1）。 试样 配备有模拟头盔。 创伤产生于 一种特殊构造的装置， 模拟标本的T1椎骨，类似于 记录了真实的生活中的追尾事故。 放射照片 进行了多方向不稳定性测量 在创伤发生之前和之后 创伤记录在案 通过测量试样底部的载荷， 头部的运动，椎骨的运动， 韧带肌肉和动脉 创伤后， 标本被仔细解剖，各种柔软的伤口 组织和骨被量化。 研究在以下情况下进行： 头部位于正中矢状面，当头部旋转时， 侧弯以模拟更复杂的真实的生活情况。 将在输入加速度之间建立相关性 和几个输出措施：量化的伤害，多方向 不稳定性和射线照相测量。 研究的意义在于更好地理解 挥鞭样损伤的机制，具体而言，在： 通过设计最佳的汽车座椅来预防这些伤害 和运动器材;通过开发 射线照相测试，更敏感地记录软 组织损伤;以及，通过更好地评估 解剖损伤和多方向不稳定性 颈椎

Most injuries of the cervical spine are soft tissue injuries, and not vertebral fractures. The accident victims with soft tissue injuries have been known to have residual pain for many years after the accident. The overall objective of the proposed research is to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of these injuries to the cervical spine caused by sudden acceleration/deceleration of the head with respect to the trunk, the so called whiplash injuries. The available research studies have used whole cadavers, anthropometric dummies, and mathematical models to simulate the injury-causing events. The traumatic event is studied from outside and not at the site of injury in the cervical spine. The uniqueness of the proposed research lies in its ability to directly study the site of injury during the trauma. Fresh cadaveric specimens (occiput to T1) will be utilized. The specimen is provided with a simulated headpiece. The trauma is produced in a specially constructed apparatus where the acceleration at the base of the specimen, the T1 vertebra, is simulated to be similar to that documented in real life rear-end car crashes. Radiographs are taken and multidirectional instability measurements are conducted before the trauma and immediately after. The trauma is documented by measuring the loads at the base of the specimen, accelerations of the headpiece, movements of the vertebrae, and deformations of the ligaments, muscles, and arteries. After the trauma, the specimen is carefully dissected, and injuries to the various soft tissues and bone are quantified. Studies are conducted when the head is in the midsagittal plane and when the head is rotated and side-bent to simulate the more complex real life situations. Correlations will be established between the input accelerations and several output measures: quantified injuries, multidirectional instabilities, and radiographic measurements. The significance of the research lies in a better understanding of the mechanisms of whiplash injuries and, specifically, in the: prevention of these injuries by designing optimal automotive seats and sports equipment; diagnosis of the injuries by developing radiographic tests that are more sensitive to documenting the soft tissue injuries; and, treatment by better assessment of the anatomic injuries and multidirectional instabilities of the cervical spine.