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

Rear-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 x Sled; p < 0.001) and pelvis than sled (1.24 +/- 0.27 x Sled; p < 0.001) accelerations. There were also significant differences across triaxial acceleration components relative to resultant at the head (x = 0.99 +/- 0.02, y = 0.11 +/- 0.05, z = 0.34 +/- 0.06; p < 0.001 for all comparisons) and pelvis (x = 0.94 +/- 0.06, y = 0.12 +/- 0.14, z = 0.35 +/- 0.08; p < 0.001 for all comparisons). A secondary analysis examining differences in occupant dynamics by seat designs across vehicle type revealed significant differences only between the pelvis z component accelerations in the passenger vehicle and SUV groups (passenger vehicle:SUV = 1.07, p < 0.001). Due to the uniform nature of IIHS sled testing protocols, this analysis reflects similarities in seat properties rather than between vehicle types. These results may provide a simplistic approach to quantify the magnitude of directional accelerations and forces to occupant spines in rear-end collisions.

Automated summary

Rear-end impacts are the most common type of motor vehicle collisions in the United States, resulting in injuries to the cervical and lumbar spine. However, research on the relationship between vehicle and occupant accelerations, as well as the forces exerted on the spine in rear-end collisions, is lacking. This study utilized data from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety to examine these relationships and found significant differences in accelerations and forces experienced by occupants compared to sled testing.