Current Research Projects

Destructive cervical spine compression testing

Axial compression is a common injury mechanism in traumatic injuries to the cervical spine. In order to improve understanding of tolerance and load sharing among anatomic structures, the cervical spine was examined at destructive levels of force. It was also of interest to develop a quantitative method for determining the force tolerance of the spine.



Segments of cadaveric cervical spines (2-C2/3, 1-C3/4, 2-C4/5, 1-C5/6) from three donors (average age 81 yrs) were subjected to destructive compressive forces applied at a constant rate of 0.01 mm/s. Two specimens were tested at full extension, two at full flexion and two at neutral postures. Strain gauge rosettes were glued to the inferior vertebrae and injuries were detected using X-rays and CT scans.

Flexion posture appeared to result in lower failure loads and it resulted in the highest compressive principal strains at the anterior vertebral body. Injuries observed included disc herniations, and fractures of the vertebrae (compression, facet, and lateral mass fractures). Two clear load sharing patterns were observed, which demonstrated a variation in the ratio of strain between anatomic components with an increase in applied load. The mechanism causing this behaviour is under investigation.

This project is in collaboration with the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Orthopaedics at the University of British Columbia, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Bern (Switzerland, U. Berlemann), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Queen's University (G.A. Dumas), and the MEM Research Center, University of Bern (Switzerland, L.P. Nolte).