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Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to investigate the loading rate dependency, load-sharing and injury mechanisms of the C2-C3 cervical spine unit. A ligamentous bio-realistic finite element model was constructed considering comprehensive geometrical representation at tissue level components and material laws that include strain rate effect, bone fracture and ligament failure. The model has been validated for both quasi-static and dynamic loading scenarios. The study demonstrated four important findings: 1) Cervical segment response is rate dependent as it showed distinctive responses under different rates of loading; 2) Ligaments are the primary load-bearing structure for in plane and out of plane loading; 3) Depending on the loading rate and direction, capsular ligaments, articular facets represent vulnerable sites and they possess risk of failure under impact complex loading. 4) This model provides detailed biofidelic kinematic and local tissue response up to failure, leading to injury prediction in major and/minor injury conditions.
