Eric Saunders, his injury, and the Leatt brace.....

Spinner
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Spinner
Edited Date/Time 1/26/2012 10:28pm
I watched the video updates on Eric Saunders that RacerX posted up.
Very tough young man and it gave me goose bumps watching both videos.

http://www.racerxonline.com/article/eric-saunders-injury-update.aspx

That being said, in the second video clip, his father holds up the Leatt brace and talks about what they think may have contributed to Eric's life changing injury.

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Paul-Africa 12/3/2010 12:59am
12/3/2010 12:59am
I'm no expert either - but maybe if the back plate split up into a V shape it would not put so much pressure at on the spine at that point.
DBerg
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DBerg 12/3/2010 1:08am
12/3/2010 1:08am
I've always kind of wondered about how much safer it is to have all the impact directed to that one spot right on the spine. I can't remember what brand it was, but it was some other type of neck brace, and while from what I can remember, most of the brace didn't look that great, but the back plate was actually 2 seperate plates that set on both sides of the spine above the shoulder blades and that seems to me like it would be the safer option.
That's not to say that I think the leatt is unsafe, or a bad product, but it definitely seems like that back plate has some room for improvement.
Either way, tough video to watch. I hate hearing about a rider getting injured like that. What makes it worse is that he wrecked on a jump that he had hit many times before. Glad to see that he seems to be in high spirits. I wish him all the luck in the future.

The Shop

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kaboom645 12/3/2010 3:00pm
12/3/2010 3:00pm
I wonder when somebody is going to incorporate a neck brace as part of the chest protector, so that the impact is spread out over the entire area of the back
Slow
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Slow 12/3/2010 3:32pm
12/3/2010 3:32pm
kaboom645 wrote:
I wonder when somebody is going to incorporate a neck brace as part of the chest protector, so that the impact is spread out over the...
I wonder when somebody is going to incorporate a neck brace as part of the chest protector, so that the impact is spread out over the entire area of the back
But that would not look cool!
kaboom645 12/3/2010 3:37pm
12/3/2010 3:37pm
kaboom645 wrote:
I wonder when somebody is going to incorporate a neck brace as part of the chest protector, so that the impact is spread out over the...
I wonder when somebody is going to incorporate a neck brace as part of the chest protector, so that the impact is spread out over the entire area of the back
Slow wrote:
But that would not look cool!
I dont think leatts look cool, but i'm not out to make a fasion statement.. Pump enough $$$ in some pro riders pockets and I'm sure you could make rubber chickens strapped to the riders back fasionable if you wanted
noob
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noob 12/3/2010 3:44pm
12/3/2010 3:44pm
kaboom645 wrote:
I wonder when somebody is going to incorporate a neck brace as part of the chest protector, so that the impact is spread out over the...
I wonder when somebody is going to incorporate a neck brace as part of the chest protector, so that the impact is spread out over the entire area of the back


surfdunn
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surfdunn 12/3/2010 4:42pm
12/3/2010 4:42pm Edited Date/Time 12/3/2010 4:42pm
no matter how much research they put into it, there still gonna have there flaws somewhere. They make the back section to long you risk to much pressure on the lower spine which is no good. make it to wide and you start stressing the back rib cage area. I think if he wasnt wearing one at all he would be in way worse shape
jgmxdad251
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jgmxdad251 12/3/2010 5:24pm
12/3/2010 5:24pm Edited Date/Time 12/3/2010 5:32pm
surfdunn wrote:
no matter how much research they put into it, there still gonna have there flaws somewhere. They make the back section to long you risk to...
no matter how much research they put into it, there still gonna have there flaws somewhere. They make the back section to long you risk to much pressure on the lower spine which is no good. make it to wide and you start stressing the back rib cage area. I think if he wasnt wearing one at all he would be in way worse shape
I agree. Its not much of a consolation but,at least he can move his arms still. With no Leatt he might not have survived the crash.


Kid seems to have a great attitude. Hope he makes a full recovery.
CamP
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CamP 12/3/2010 5:30pm
12/3/2010 5:30pm
You can break that spar off with your bare hands. It's not strong enough to break your back.
SMITH201
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SMITH201 12/3/2010 5:33pm
12/3/2010 5:33pm
surfdunn wrote:
no matter how much research they put into it, there still gonna have there flaws somewhere. They make the back section to long you risk to...
no matter how much research they put into it, there still gonna have there flaws somewhere. They make the back section to long you risk to much pressure on the lower spine which is no good. make it to wide and you start stressing the back rib cage area. I think if he wasnt wearing one at all he would be in way worse shape
I agree, from the description of the crash i think the Leatt saved his life.

Hank_Thrill
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Hank_Thrill 12/3/2010 5:41pm
12/3/2010 5:41pm
Injuries are not going down anytime soon. I don't see them going down until electric bikes (hopefully they will make those a tad bit slower).
GuyB
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GuyB 12/3/2010 5:45pm
12/3/2010 5:45pm
kaboom645 wrote:
I wonder when somebody is going to incorporate a neck brace as part of the chest protector, so that the impact is spread out over the...
I wonder when somebody is going to incorporate a neck brace as part of the chest protector, so that the impact is spread out over the entire area of the back
noob wrote:
[IMG]http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr170/STFUnoob_photo/661_2009_interbike3.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr170/STFUnoob_photo/661_2009_interbike4.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr170/STFUnoob_photo/26c3af97.jpg[/IMG]


Noob, that was was show bait at Indy nearly a couple years ago now, but was definitely interesting looking.

(I define show bait as something that draws tons of attention to a particular booth, but is a long ways off from seeing production.)

Spinner, I know you like posting stuff that'll sort of kick the proverbial hornet's nest, but discussion on safety-related topics are generally always worthwhile. But at the same time I'd say it's safe to say that it's also speculation. No one knows if it caused the injury, or if not using it would have made it worse...or migrate somewhere else.

I am bummed to see him in a chair, though. That outcome is never good.
Driven71
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Driven71 12/3/2010 5:45pm
12/3/2010 5:45pm
Tried to buy the 661 Droid pictured above. For whatever reason after all the advertising they didn't make it into production. I bought a Leatt and a UFO Reactor chest protector that the brace sits over instead of under. Looks like Leatt is now making their own chest protector that does the same thing.
sbarrington314 12/3/2010 5:57pm
12/3/2010 5:57pm
anyone know what level his injury is? we wonder alot if the leatt is what broke mine as well. the bottom part of the brace is directly where my spine is broke....
Shenzi
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Shenzi 12/3/2010 6:13pm
12/3/2010 6:13pm
so many experts, so many specialists, so many doctors and researchers on here, what a treat!
Matt414
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Matt414 12/3/2010 6:24pm
12/3/2010 6:24pm
Shenzi wrote:
so many experts, so many specialists, so many doctors and researchers on here, what a treat!
While I am not a doctor. I think I can safely call myself an expert on this subject. That being said, if I were riding now, I wouldn't wear a leatt.

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GuyB
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GuyB 12/3/2010 6:26pm
12/3/2010 6:26pm
Every crash is unique. I'd guess that this little guy's parents were happy he was wearing his. (Shot at A Day In The Dirt, and I left in all the shots, including the ones with bad focus and composition.)

I was happy to see him get up from this one.





















TerryK
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TerryK 12/3/2010 6:38pm
12/3/2010 6:38pm
NO ONE can say , what part of his injury was caused by what part of the crash or if any injury was caused by any part of his protective equipment.......or anyone's injuries for that matter. Every last bit of it is pure speculation. Period.

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GuyB 12/3/2010 6:50pm
12/3/2010 6:50pm
kx100getter wrote:
Did that kid get hurt at all?
I believe he was leading the race at that point. He bounced back up, kicked his bike, and took off.
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Team Ideal 12/3/2010 6:50pm
12/3/2010 6:50pm
my son has broken 2 of the thoracic wedges, the first time it broke clean and he never complained about anything. the second time it didn't break clean but kind of splintered, that time he did complain of upper back pain pretty much where it contacted his spine/back area, but it was very short lived and left no marks or brusing. IMO it did it's job both times,
why Erics or SBarringtons didn't break I have no idea but maybe this is something that can be looked into.
both times my sons broke/splintered directly where it goes into hard plastic support. he is 5'9 and goes around 150 lbs, but has always used the 7 deg wedge until now, after reading this I will prolly oder a new kit because we used his brothers 7 deg which was the second one he broke, but now are using the regular he had left over. maybe that also has something to do with it, all speculation but who knows???
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stillwelding 12/3/2010 6:54pm
12/3/2010 6:54pm
Paul-Africa wrote:
I'm no expert either - but maybe if the back plate split up into a V shape it would not put so much pressure at on...
I'm no expert either - but maybe if the back plate split up into a V shape it would not put so much pressure at on the spine at that point.
This was from an earlier post. It's an Ortema (German, I think). I still think Leatt has put in the most testing and medical engineering, but I may just be mis-informed.

TerryB
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TerryB 12/3/2010 7:42pm
12/3/2010 7:42pm
Paul-Africa wrote:
I'm no expert either - but maybe if the back plate split up into a V shape it would not put so much pressure at on...
I'm no expert either - but maybe if the back plate split up into a V shape it would not put so much pressure at on the spine at that point.
stillwelding wrote:
This was from an earlier post. It's an Ortema (German, I think). I still think Leatt has put in the most testing and medical engineering, but...
This was from an earlier post. It's an Ortema (German, I think). I still think Leatt has put in the most testing and medical engineering, but I may just be mis-informed.

That looks very lightweight and comfy. I won't speculate on effectiveness.

The Omega design is spread out across the back also:

mjskier
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mjskier 12/3/2010 10:41pm
12/3/2010 10:41pm
Every crash is unique. I'd guess that this little guy's parents were happy he was wearing his.
This isn't a good example for or against a neck brace: That kid did a perfect roll. Nowhere in the sequence did he put stress on his neck.
Spinner
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Spinner 12/3/2010 11:53pm
12/3/2010 11:53pm
stillwelding wrote:
This was from an earlier post. It's an Ortema (German, I think). I still think Leatt has put in the most testing and medical engineering, but...
This was from an earlier post. It's an Ortema (German, I think). I still think Leatt has put in the most testing and medical engineering, but I may just be mis-informed.

WHO exactly has Leatt do the testing on their braces?
And what sort of testing exactly?
stillwelding
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stillwelding 12/4/2010 12:12am
12/4/2010 12:12am
stillwelding wrote:
This was from an earlier post. It's an Ortema (German, I think). I still think Leatt has put in the most testing and medical engineering, but...
This was from an earlier post. It's an Ortema (German, I think). I still think Leatt has put in the most testing and medical engineering, but I may just be mis-informed.

Spinner wrote:
WHO exactly has Leatt do the testing on their braces?
And what sort of testing exactly?
This is all the information that I've been able to find. The first link is to Leatt's FAQ page and has some questions about what standards they comply with (mind you, this is their own site). The other links are from Moto-Verte's article on neck braces. I used Google Translate to convert to English.

http://www.leatt-brace.com/index.php/customer-support/faq/#112

http://www.motoverte.com/site/enquete-les-protections-cervicales-en-question-partie-1-45513.html

http://www.motoverte.com/site/enquete-les-protections-cervicales-en-question-partie-2-45521.html

http://www.motoverte.com/site/enquete-les-protections-cervicales-en-question-partie-3-45522.html



mxrose3
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mxrose3 12/4/2010 12:24am
12/4/2010 12:24am
I still think the Leatt has a long way to go with there design.
And when they patented it and sued other companies for trying to copy them, well... that just screwed you and me over.
And they basically have ignored any suggestions to improve the design to make it a safer design. Kids like the look and the price tag of it, so it sells better than any of them... which screws us again.
I have seen numerous collarbone injuries, and I have seen a few backs get broken right at the spot that Eric's dad pointed out. I think Matt414 knows what he's talking about too.
Make your own decision, but to me the Leatt isn't the end answer to this problem. Its a start, but we started a good while ago.

Post a reply to: Eric Saunders, his injury, and the Leatt brace.....