Faculty Collaboration Database

Upper neck forces and moments and cranial angular accelerations in lateral impact. Ann Biomed Eng 2008 Mar;36(3):406-14

Date

01/09/2008

Pubmed ID

18181019

DOI

10.1007/s10439-007-9422-7

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-39149118316 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   22 Citations

Abstract

Biomechanical studies using postmortem human subjects (PMHS) in lateral impact have focused primarily on chest and pelvis injuries, mechanisms, tolerances, and comparison with side impact dummies. A paucity of data exists on the head-neck junction, i.e., forces and moments, and cranial angular accelerations. The objective of this study was to determine lateral impact-induced three-dimensional temporal forces and moments at the head-neck junction and cranial linear and angular accelerations from sled tests using PMHS and compare with responses obtained from an anthropomorphic test device (dummy) designed for lateral impact. Following initial evaluations, PMHS were seated on a sled, restrained using belts, and lateral acceleration was applied. Specimens were instrumented with a pyramid-shaped nine-accelerometer package to record cranial accelerations. A sled accelerometer was used to record the input acceleration. Radiographs and computed tomography scans were obtained to identify pathology. A similar testing protocol was adopted for dummy tests. Results indicated that profiles of forces and moments at the head-neck junction and cranial accelerations were similar between the two models. However, peak forces and moments at the head-neck junction were lower in the dummy than PMHS. Peak cranial linear and angular accelerations were also lower in the dummy than in the PMHS. Fractures to the head-neck complex were not identified in PMHS tests. Peak cranial angular accelerations were suggestive of mild traumatic brain injury with potential for loss of consciousness. Findings from this study with a limited dataset are valuable in establishing response corridors for side impacts and evaluating side impact dummies used in crashworthiness and safety-engineering studies.

Author List

Yoganandan N, Pintar FA, Zhang J, Stemper BD, Philippens M

Authors

Frank A. Pintar PhD Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Brian Stemper PhD Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Narayan Yoganandan PhD Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Acceleration
Computer Simulation
Head
Humans
Models, Biological
Movement
Neck
Physical Stimulation
Rotation
Stress, Mechanical
Torque