Date of Award
Fall 1996
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biomedical Engineering
First Advisor
Pintar, Frank A.
Second Advisor
Harris, Gerald
Abstract
This study evaluated the localized kinematics of the cervical spine during dynamic axial loading to evaluate the mechanisms of cervical spine injury. Kinematically, the injuries that are produced during loading can be seen by the relative displacements of the individual components. Compression, flexion, and extension injuries have characteristically different kinematic patterns. This research paper presents the kinematic patterns observed throughout the analysis of the localized cervical spine motion. The hypothesis to be evaluated in this study is that there exists a strain rate criteria for the components of the cervical spine, such that strain rate is an indicator of a dynamic failure point which corresponds to a failure strain value. The threshold strain rates (mm/mm/msec) were -0.17 for vertebral bodies in compression, 0.30 for posterior ligaments in tension, and 0.35 for anterior ligaments/discs in tension. The strain rate values for failure versus non-failure components was significantly different with p<0.0001. The strain at failure ranges were 12.5- 27.7% for vertebral bodies, 55.5- 78.2% for posterior ligaments, and 26.6% for anterior ligaments/discs. The first three chapters provide the necessary background information that support and explain my research. Chapter one provides basic anatomy that will be useful in understanding cervical spine research. Chapter two reports cervical spine injury classifications used by clinicians and researchers. Chapter three is a literature review of cervical spine injury research, and introduces the hypothesis based on previous research efforts. Chapters four through seven present the kinematic analysis that was performed to evaluate the hypothesis. Chapter four explains the experimental design and methods used for the analysis. Chapter five presents all of the results of the study. Chapter six discusses the kinematic results. Chapter seven concludes the study and offers insight for further kinematic research.
Recommended Citation
Pietz, Wendy Marie, "Kinematics of Cervical Spinal Column Injury" (1996). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 3803.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/3803