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Biomechanical characterization of internal layer subfailure in blunt arterial injury. Ann Biomed Eng 2007 Feb;35(2):285-91

Date

12/08/2006

Pubmed ID

17151920

DOI

10.1007/s10439-006-9229-y

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-33846334848 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   18 Citations

Abstract

Blunt carotid artery injuries occur in 0.3% of blunt injured patients and may lead to devastating neurological consequences. However, arterial mechanics leading to internal layer subfailure have not been quantified. Twenty-two human carotid artery segments and 18 porcine thoracic aorta segments were opened to expose the intimal side and longitudinally distracted to failure. Porcine aortas were a geometrically accurate model of human carotid arteries. Internal layer subfailures were identified using videography and correlated with mechanical data. Ninety-three percent (93%) of vessels demonstrated subfailure prior to catastrophic failure. All subfailures occurred on the intimal surface. Initial subfailure occurred at 79% of the stress and 85% of the strain to catastrophic failure in younger porcine specimens, compared to 44% and 60%, respectively, in older human specimens. In most cases, multiple subfailures occurred prior to catastrophic failure. Due to limitations in human specimen quality (age, prior storage), young and fresh porcine aorta specimens are likely a more accurate model of clinical blunt carotid artery injuries. Present results indicate that vessels are acutely capable of maintaining physiologic function following initial subfailure. Delayed symptomatology commonly associated with blunt arterial injuries is explained by this mechanics-based and experimentally quantified onset of subcatastrophic failure.

Author List

Stemper BD, Yoganandan N, Sinson GP, Gennarelli TA, Stineman MR, Pintar FA

Authors

Frank A. Pintar PhD Chair, Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Grant P. Sinson MD Associate Professor in the Neurosurgery 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

Animals
Biomechanical Phenomena
Carotid Artery Injuries
Computer Simulation
Endothelium, Vascular
Humans
In Vitro Techniques
Models, Cardiovascular
Species Specificity
Swine
Tensile Strength
Thoracic Arteries