Thoracolumbar Spine Fracture occurring in Obese People involved in Motor Vehicle Crashes

Crash data from the International Center of Automotive Medicine (ICAM) database, with analytic morphomics, were used to evaluate thoracolumbar spine fractures for obese occupants in frontal crashes. Two BMI (Body Mass Index) groups (non-obese and obese) with a maximum abbreviated injury scale (MAIS) in the spine region of ≥2 (MAIS_6S 2+) were categorised and compared. The fracture types were assessed based on AIS for each occupant. Univariate analyses were conducted to investigate the association between analytic morphomics measures and thoracolumbar spine fracture. The results indicate that MAIS 2+ injury occurred mainly in severe crashes with high delta-V and large intrusion. Transverse process fractures were the most common AIS 2+ fractures, followed by minor compression type fractures (≤ 20% anterior height). Compared to the non-obese occupants, the majority of obese occupants sustained transverse process fractures at lumbar vertebra with a higher incidence ratio. A statistical analysis was conducted, using vehicle, demographic, and morphomic variables, to explain the difference between transverse process fractures and vertebra body compression fractures. Transverse process fractures were related to BMI and vehicle factors (intrusion) in the obese group. In addition, morphomics related to fat distribution, muscle area, and cortical bone density are the major difference between non-obese and obese occupants.