Forensic Aspects of Mechanisms of Cervical Spine Injuries Due to Motorcycle Accidents

The purpose of this study was to determine which clinical factors are useful for predicting concomitant injuries of the cervical spine and cervical spinal cord in motorcyclists with head injuries, we examined the nature and mechanisms of cervical injuries. We analyzed data collected on 1,686 motorcyclists involved in road traffic accidents (from 2006- 2008) and identified those who had sustained a spinal injury. Spinal injury occurred in 56 (3.3%) riders (44 male riders [78.6%] and 12 female riders [21.4%]), with a mean age of 29.3±18.9 years. There were 20 (35.7%) deaths. Results indicated that while neck injuries in motorcycle accidents are complex and can occur at any level of the cervical spine, the craniocervical junction among fatalities, and the lower cervical spine (C5 [32%]) among survivors, were the most frequently injured. Hyperextension of the neck is considered the most common mechanism of the injury because cervical injuries were significantly more common in persons sustaining frontal impacts than lateral or rear impacts. Our results suggest that motorcyclists with head injuries due to frontal impacts should be carefully examined for concomitant cervical injuries. These findings should be helpful for decreasing fatalities from undiagnosed cervical injuries in motorcyclists with head injuries.