title: Finite element analysis of head-neck kinematics during motor vehicle accidents: analysis in multiple planes.
abstract: In this study, a detailed three-dimensional head-neck (C0-C7) finite element (FE) model developed previously based on the actual geometry of a human cadaver specimen was used. Five simulation analyses were performed to investigate the kinematic responses of the head-neck complex under rear-end, front, side, rear- and front-side impacts. Under rear-end and front impacts, it was predicted that the global and intervertebral rotations of the head-neck in the sagittal plane displayed nearly symmetric curvatures about the frontal plane. The primary sagittal rotational angles of the neck under direct front and rear-end impact conditions were higher than the primary frontal rotational angles under other side impact conditions. The analysis predicted early S-shaped and subsequent C-shaped curvatures of the head-neck complex in the sagittal plane under front and rear-end impact, and in the frontal plane under side impact. The head-neck complex flexed laterally in one direction with peak magnitude of larger than 22 degrees and a duration of about 130 ms before flexing in the opposite direction under both side and rear-side impact, compared to the corresponding values of about 15 degrees and 105 ms under front-side impact. The C0-C7 FE model has reasonably predicted the effects of impact direction in the primary sagittal and frontal segmental motion and curvatures of the head-neck complex under various impact conditions.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Research Centre, College of Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore. mecteo@ntu.edu.sg
authors.forename: Ee Chon
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Teo
authors.forename: Qing Hang
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Russel C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006257:Head / Q000502:physiology*; D019416:Head Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009333:Neck / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology