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Injury to the Thoracolumbar Spine and Pelvis

  • Chapter
Accidental Injury

Abstract

Injury to the bony portion of the thoracolumbar is rare in automotive collisions. Soft tissue injuries appear to be more common. This chapter describes the major modes of injury to the spine, and discusses the biomechanical response of the spine to vertical (+g z ) and horizontal (-g x ) acceleration. A form of spinal injury due to the wearing of shoulder belts is discussed. The biomechanics and neurophysiology of low back pain form the foundation for an understanding of soft tissue injury. The relationship between disc rupture and impact loading is considered to be remote, as disc rupture is a degenerative process that occurs over a long period of time. Mathematical models of the spine are also reviewed.

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  1. Albert I. King
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    Alan M. Nahum M.D. (Medical-Legal Consultants) (Medical-Legal Consultants)

  2. School of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, 92093, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Alan M. Nahum M.D. (Medical-Legal Consultants) (Medical-Legal Consultants)

  3. Tandelta, Inc., 48103, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    John W. Melvin Ph.D.

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King, A.I. (2002). Injury to the Thoracolumbar Spine and Pelvis. In: Nahum, A.M., Melvin, J.W. (eds) Accidental Injury. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-21787-1_18

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