Difference in Female and Male Whiplash Injury Risk – Indications from Seat Testing and From Fluid Dynamics Modelling of Nerve Injury Mechanisms

Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD) is still one of the most poorly understood traffic injuries. Cervical dorsal root ganglion lesion is a potential cause of WAD. This short communication covers factors that potentially contribute to the difference in WAD risk between female and male car occupants in rear impacts. A prototype female rear impact dummy and the male BioRID II dummy were used. In parallel a 3D model of the ganglion and the intervertebral bridging veins was developed in CFD software. The T1 x-acceleration was mostly higher in the female dummy, coinciding with the time of strongest pressure magnitudes. Car seats interacted differently with the female compared the male dummy. Increased early T1 acceleration of the female indicates a stronger pressure magnitude in the vertebral canal. Increased pressures were also found with more female-like neck joint properties. The results points to the need to complete