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Injury to the Thoraco-Lumbar Spine and Pelvis

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Accidental Injury

Abstract

Injury to the bony portion of the thoracolumbar spine is rare in automotive collisions. Soft tissue injuries appear to be more common. Major modes of injury to the spine are described, followed by a discussion of the biomechanical response of the spine to vertical (+g x) 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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Authors
  1. Albert I. King
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Editors and Affiliations

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

    Alan M. Nahum

  2. Biomedical Science Department, General Motors Research Laboratories, 48090, Warren, MI, USA

    John W. Melvin

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King, A.I. (1993). Injury to the Thoraco-Lumbar Spine and Pelvis. In: Nahum, A.M., Melvin, J.W. (eds) Accidental Injury. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2264-2_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2264-2_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-2266-6

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