The effect of Rear-End collisions on triaxial acceleration to occupant cervical and lumbar Spines: An analysis of IIHS data

Accid Anal Prev. 2022 Jun 27;174:106761. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2022.106761. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTRear-end impacts are the most frequent type of the more than seven million motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) occurring annually in the United States. The cervical and lumbar spine are the most commonly injured sites as a result of rear-end collisions. The direction and magnitude of accelerations and forces to the spine are considered primary indicators of injury. Yet, there is a dearth of research regarding the relation and quantification of vehicle to occupant accelerations, as well as triaxial acceleration components (and thus, forces) to occupant spines in rear-end impacts. Therefore, the current study utilizes the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) test database to examine the relative relations between vehicle and occupant accelerations, as well as between component accelerations experienced at the cervical and lumbar spines in rear-end collisions. Anthropometric test device (ATD) head and pelvis accelerometer data from IIHS sled testing are used as representative measures of acceleration experienced at the cervical and lumbar spine, respectively. Peak resultant acceleration is calculated at the head and pelvis, and peak directional components (x, y, and z) of acceleration are compared to resultants. This analysis revealed significantly higher occupant head than sled (2.17 ± 0.4 × Sled; p < 0.001) and pelvis than sled (1.24 ± 0.27 × Sled; p < 0.001) ac...
Source: Accident; Analysis and Prevention. - Category: Accident Prevention Authors: Source Type: research