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Association Between Cumulative G-force Exposure and Cervical Spine Degenerative Changes
Tuomas Keskimölö1,2, Petteri Oura3, Tuomas Honkanen4,5
1Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu 90220, Finland.
Military Medicine
|September 23, 2024
Summary
Fighter pilot G-force exposure increases cervical spine degeneration and herniations. However, only herniation incidence negatively correlated with exposure, possibly due to pain avoidance.
Area of Science:
- Aerospace Medicine
- Orthopedics
- Radiology
Background:
- Fighter pilots experience high G-force loads and head movements, leading to common neck pain.
- This pain can limit flight duty and cause lost flying time.
- The study investigated if early career G-force exposure impacts cervical spine degenerative changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the association between G-force exposure levels in early military flight careers and the risk of cervical spine degenerative changes.
- To analyze the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration and herniations in relation to individual G-force exposure.
Main Methods:
- 56 male fighter pilot cadets underwent cervical spine MRI at baseline and after 5 years.
- G-force exposure was quantified using the individual Fatigue Index (FI) from BAE Hawk flights.
- Pearson correlation coefficients were used to compare degenerative changes with FI values.
Main Results:
- A significant progression in intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration was observed, but without correlation to FI.
- The prevalence of IVD herniations significantly increased, showing a negative correlation with FI.
- No other cervical spine degenerative changes progressed or correlated with FI values.
Conclusions:
- Intervertebral disc degeneration and herniations increase during the early stages of a fighter pilot's career.
- A negative correlation was found between IVD herniation incidence and FI, potentially due to pain avoidance or other factors.
- This study provides initial MRI-based evidence linking G-force exposure to cervical changes, though longer follow-up is needed.
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