David Nuckley, Ph.D.
Department of Mechanical Engineering
"The Biomechanics of Spinal Cord Injury" 

The cervical spine acts as the main structural column of the neck as well as the conduit through which our body's neural connections pass.  Our research at the Applied Biomechanics Laboratory centers on preserving these functions in automotive accidents, during surgical interventions,  and with natural age advancement.  Each year in the US, 11,000 individuals incur spinal cord injuries with varying degrees of severity.  In spite of these numbers, the biomechanical sequelae surrounding a spinal cord injury (SCI) have not been well characterized.  Our experimental and computational approaches to understanding SCI have scratched the surface of SCI biomechanics, but it is clear there is much to be done.  I will present an overview of the biomechanics of SCI and then discuss specific studies we have performed and future endeavors in the prevention and mitigation of SCI.