Cervical Injuries and Blunt
Trauma
Patrick Lynch
Cervical fractures sustained in a MVA are responsible for 60%
of reported cases of SCI (Ref 6,7,1,8,9).
Dr Terry Trammell/Value of Eject Report
Since 2005, motor vehicle crashes account for 41.3% of
reported SCI cases
The National SCI Statistical Center
Spinal fractures in drivers of open cockpit open wheel race
cars were studied during the interval 1996 - 2005 in five
racing series. There were 44 levels of fracture in 38
occurrences of fracture in 36 drivers. There were 3 injuries at
the OC level, and 12 C3 - C7. Therefore the cervical fractures
represented 34.1% of the spinal fractures, which is consistent
with that present in MVA's.
Dr Terry Trammell/Value of Eject Report
The rescuer who removes a helmet improperly may
unintentionally aggravate cervical spine injuries
American College of Surgeons
In the presence of an unstable distractive injury to the
basiocciput there is a high probability that the application of
traction to the head could result in worsening of the injury
and or neurological status…
…Anecdotal data has shown that 5# of traction can result in
catastrophic neurological deterioration of such an injury.
Dr Terry Trammell/Value of Eject Report
Cervical Injuries in motorsport continue to be a major concern
for medical personnel. It is a topic of continuous debate
because trauma rescuers struggle in an environment of
limited data and incomplete answers to offer the best care to
minimize the risk of additional neurologic injury.
Dr Dino Altmann
American College of Surgeons Helmet Removal Technique
Helmet Removal Digital x-Ray
Eject Helmet Removal Digital x-Ray
Mayo Clinic Eject Study
Biomechanics Lab
GOAL: Assess the effect of helmet removal on the
neck using the Eject system versus standard, manual
removal
• METHOD: A model of the head was created to replace a live subject with forces
and torques on the head and neck were measured simultaneously
• Helmets were properly fit to live subjects to ensure correct fitting
3-D Scan
• 3 dimensional computer models of the subjects heads were created
• The 3-D scans were converted into CNC milled wood replica heads
• A biomechanical neck was connected to head to replicate normal flex
• A six-component load cell was mounted to base of neck/model head
• Traction & compression forces were measured at the neck for data
Milled headform, multiple sensors fitted
Mayo Clinic Eject Study
Neck/Head form testing
with six-component load
cell for force data
collection
Mayo Clinic Lab Results
Medium Motor Cross Helmet
Maximum
Eject System®
Eject System®
Hand Pump
16g CO2 Cartridge
Manual Removal
Condition
Trial
Left/Right
Front/Back
Traction
Left/Right
Front/Back
Traction
Nodding
Tilting
Traction
1
61.37
-6.11
62.37
-3.06
-10.21
99.75
-35.25
7.62
5.01
2
19.65
5.80
49.76
-3.68
-7.66
67.56
-27.26
9.73
9.26
3
61.46
17.62
35.60
-4.45
-6.23
70.75
25.50
13.83
10.73
4
29.28
20.22
71.04
-8.37
-12.18
72.07
-42.42
28.88
-8.99
5
39.34
10.26
57.72
-4.71
-8.63
78.79
-29.88
14.22
7.52
6
24.64
12.51
51.86
-2.86
-9.95
66.09
-34.46
8.70
9.21
Avg
39.291
10.052
54.725
-4.523
-9.145
75.836
-23.961
13.830
5.456
Std Dev
18.329
9.445
12.100
2.023
2.097
12.522
24.784
7.854
7.343
1
9.27
-17.06
-42.35
0.92
4.31
-3.17
21.89
4.99
-6.65
2
40.71
16.51
-40.15
0.28
3.91
1.51
13.24
1.52
3.06
3
11.71
-13.86
-37.43
0.22
3.40
1.73
10.12
2.89
2.40
4
12.04
-10.27
-33.28
-0.27
2.87
1.01
12.74
1.64
5.06
5
43.53
25.06
-38.29
0.37
3.11
1.20
10.21
4.57
-5.56
6
23.81
-15.32
-39.78
0.38
3.45
-1.59
14.20
2.96
-2.17
Avg
23.512
-2.490
-38.546
0.316
3.507
0.117
13.733
3.096
-0.645
Std Dev
15.298
18.366
3.087
0.380
0.525
2.013
4.323
1.444
4.861
1
18.36
-23.39
-39.58
1.61
3.09
5.67
12.08
-4.90
5.73
2
47.91
19.50
-41.20
0.21
3.38
2.95
13.37
2.53
3.48
3
14.09
-15.62
-38.22
-0.19
2.45
4.26
7.09
2.27
3.89
4
34.85
-18.75
-40.15
0.36
2.67
5.16
9.53
2.37
-2.80
5
14.42
-26.32
-34.54
-0.40
-2.38
-3.87
6.61
4.25
6.71
6
38.53
-15.97
-43.96
0.33
2.12
-4.17
8.45
2.71
3.40
Avg
28.024
-13.422
-39.608
0.319
1.890
1.667
9.521
1.538
3.402
Std Dev
14.318
16.668
3.143
0.699
2.139
4.502
2.718
3.235
3.320
Figure 7
•
•
Neck Torques (in-lb)
Neck Forces (lb)
Head Forces (lb)
Test data collected and analyzed
Traction & compression forces identified
Figures 5 &6
Mayo Clinic Lab Results
Maximum Traction/Compression Forces - Time
Motocross Helmet Traction/Compressive Forces at Neck during Removal
90
Manual Removal
Eject w ith 16g CO2
80
Force at Neck (lb)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
-10 0
2
4
6
8
Time (s)
The positive values on this graph represent traction forces. The negative values represent
compression. This illustrates that the traction forces at the neck increase progressively to a peak and
then decrease at a similar rate during manual removal while traction forces remain minimal during
removal using the Eject® System.
10
Mayo Clinic Lab Results
Maximum Traction/Compression Forces
Auto Racing HelmetMaximum Traction/Compressive Forces on Neck
250
Force (N)
200
150
100
50
0
Manual Removal
Eject with 16g Cartridge
The positive values on this graph represent traction forces. The negative values represent
compression. This illustrates that the traction forces at the neck increase progressively to a peak and
then decrease at a similar rate during manual removal while traction forces remain minimal during
removal using the Eject® System.
Thank You
Patrick Lynch
Motorsport Director
Shock Doctor
Tel: +1 612 810 5330
Email: lynch@shockdoctor.com