Discussion
Slightly morbid even for Health matters. But when someone breaks their neck in an accident is it invariably a head impact that causes the damage or is an impact direct to the neck common? And in the case of head impacts, is it the head going in a particular direction that is most dangerous?
In the context of motorsport accidents, there isn't generally an impact to the neck itself. When there's sudden deceleration as a result of the car hitting something, the body of the driver is usually well restrained by the harness but the head might not be. The additional weight of the helmet and the head being unrestrained can result in the head snapping forward, causing a basilar skull fracture. A lot motorsport nowadays mandates the use of a HANS device which keeps the head restrained as well, but certainly not everything.
An example of the difference it can make in an accident (guy on the left doesn't have one): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g40YatgE_CE
An example of the difference it can make in an accident (guy on the left doesn't have one): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g40YatgE_CE
Dr Jekyll said:
Slightly morbid even for Health matters. But when someone breaks their neck in an accident is it invariably a head impact that causes the damage or is an impact direct to the neck common? And in the case of head impacts, is it the head going in a particular direction that is most dangerous?
Loads of mechanisms of injury. Invariably there is some sort of flexion, extension or rotation of the head/neck that causes the injury. This flexion/extension may be caused by a head injury eg via a fall downstairs. What makes you ask OP?
Dr Jekyll said:
I was watching one of the 'ER air ambulance' type programs with a number of suspected neck breaks and wondered what if anything could protect someone. HANS seems a partial answer.
HANS or the Simpson hybrid are certainly effective. The HANS will only work with a full harness, some people claim the Simpson can work with just a normal diagonal belt. There is a neck brace for motocross riders (Leatt) but is not approved for road racing bikes. None of the above will work effectively in all situations and particularly the Simpson and the Leatt as they need to be set up right in the beginning (more adjustments available)
We have certainly seen a drop in neck injuries in Motorsport (4 wheels) since the introduction of FHR's (Frontal Head Restraints) Don't know enough about the Leatt to say what effect it has had on Motocross.
To add to the list that JapanRed posted there are also Compression Spinal Injuries eg jumping/falling from height and landing on your feet can also cause injuries to the spine.
Drumroll said:
To add to the list that JapanRed posted there are also Compression Spinal Injuries eg jumping/falling from height and landing on your feet can also cause injuries to the spine.
Or diving into shallow or empty swimming pools presumably. I once knew someone whose job was flying a Learjet to repatriate very seriously injured UK tourists, by far the most common injury was apparently neck fracture through diving, very often in Cyprus for some reason.Dr Jekyll said:
Drumroll said:
To add to the list that JapanRed posted there are also Compression Spinal Injuries eg jumping/falling from height and landing on your feet can also cause injuries to the spine.
Or diving into shallow or empty swimming pools presumably. I once knew someone whose job was flying a Learjet to repatriate very seriously injured UK tourists, by far the most common injury was apparently neck fracture through diving, very often in Cyprus for some reason.Injuries range from no long term issues to death. Very variable and Lady Luck plays a big part in my experience. Lots of people in very high impact scenarios walk away whilst others have quite minor trauma and don’t survive.
Leatt published some motorcycling statistics on neck injury, as well as a longer white paper on neck injuries.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff