Journal article
Characterizing neck and spinal response in booster seated reclined children in frontal impacts
TRAFFIC INJURY PREVENTION, v 24, pS32
21 Apr 2023
PMID: 37267004
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Objective Belt-positioning booster seats (BPB) and pre-pretensioner (PPT) belts may be effective in preventing injuries from submarining and head excursion in reclined children. It is unknown if injuries at the neck and spine could still occur. This study's goal is to characterize neck and spine responses in reclined children with and without the BPB and the PPT. Methods Eleven frontal impact sled tests were performed (56 kph) with the Large Omnidirectional Child (LODC) dummy on a production vehicle seat. A 3-point simulated seat-integrated-belt was used with a load-limiter (similar to 4.5 kN). Testing was conducted with and without the BPB with the seatback at similar to 25 degrees, similar to 45 degrees and repeated once. One test was conducted at similar to 60 degrees with the BPB. 100 mm of belt-slack was removed to simulate PPT in two 45 degrees BPB tests and the BPB 60 degrees test. The LODC peak thoracic spine accelerations and angular rotations, and peak neck and lumbar force/moment loads were compared between conditions. Results Neck shear forces were the highest in the 60 degrees BPB & PPT (-1.9 kN) and 45 degrees noBPB (-1.3 kN) than all other BPB conditions (-0.5 to -0.8 kN). The highest peak neck moments were found in the 45 degrees noBPB (-40.5 N-m), and in the 60 degrees BPB & PPT (-34.2 N-m) conditions compared to all others (-20.8 to -27.9 N-m.). The 60 degrees BPB and PPT condition demonstrated thoracic forward rotation similar to the 25 degrees noBPB condition (25 degrees noBPB -24.8 to -35.0 deg, 60 degrees BPB&PPT -27.5 to -43.2 deg.). Thoracic spine peak resultant accelerations (T1, T6, T12) were higher in the 25 degrees and 45 degrees noBPB conditions (53 g to 71 g) and in the 60 degrees BPB & PPT (T6: 61.8 g) compared to all other BPB conditions (48.4 g to 53.1 g). The lumbar peak shear forces and moments were the highest in the 45 degrees noBPB (4.9 kN, -296 N-m) and the 60 degrees BPB & PPT condition (1.7 kN, -146 N-m). Conclusion These findings show similarities in neck, spine, and lumbar responses between the 60 degrees reclined condition with BPB and PPT and the 25 degrees and 45 degrees conditions without the same countermeasures. This study highlights the need for future restraint developments to protect moderate and severe reclined BPB-seated child occupants.
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Details
- Title
- Characterizing neck and spinal response in booster seated reclined children in frontal impacts
- Publication Details
- TRAFFIC INJURY PREVENTION, v 24, pS32
- Publisher
- TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC; PHILADELPHIA
- Grant note
- The study was funded by Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and The Ohio State University (OSU).
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Drexel University
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001000514800005
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85160970086
- Other Identifier
- 991021860733104721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
- Transportation