Spine virtual traumas under multiple impact situations

The cervical spine segment is a very complex and mobile structure of the human body [1]. Once trauma situation occurs, the head-neck segment is highly loaded leading to severe trauma with a lethal or permanent incapacity risk. Cervical spine was largely studied from its mechanical properties to frontal impact to investigate whiplash mechanisms [2, 3]. For pedestrian, cyclist and motorcyclist accidents, the head-neck segment is loaded under various impact directions. Also, how these impact directions can have an incidence on the injury mechanisms, potential injury and their severity? To answer this question, the finite element simulation using existing dedicated models [4] could be a valuable tool. By simulating frontal, lateral, rear and oblique dynamic loadings on the HUMOS head-neck segment, a first numerical study showed weakness area on the spinal segment whatever the impact condition.