BACKGROUND: This study aimed to describe the injury mechanism of children's thorax in frontal impact and provide an injury threshold. METHODS: Nine unembalmed cadavers were divided into two groups. A young cohort aged 2 to 4 years (four cadavers) was impacted by a 2.5-kg mass impactor, whereas the older cohort, aged 5-12 years (five cadavers), was impacted by a 3.5-kg mass impactor. RESULTS: The mean values of peak sternal viscous criterion and accelerations for the older group and younger group were 1.35 +/- 0.62 m/s, 81.5 +/- 29.2 g and 2.05 +/- 0.5 m/s, 65 +/- 20.1 g, respectively. The maximum forces in the older group (1138 +/- 271.7 N) were significantly higher than those in younger group (776.3 +/- 39 N). In seven specimens, injuries after the impact were found. CONCLUSIONS: The full set of cadaveric injuries did not correlate with peak chest deformation, sternal viscous criterion, or peak fourth thoracic vertebra acceleration. However, cadaver thoracic injury showed a strong dependence on dissipated energy to peak deformation.
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to describe the injury mechanism of children's thorax in frontal impact and provide an injury threshold. METHODS: Nine unembalmed cadavers were divided into two groups. A young cohort aged 2 to 4 years (four cadavers) was impacted by a 2.5-kg mass impactor, whereas the older cohort, aged 5-12 years (five cadavers), was impacted by a 3.5-kg mass impactor. RESULTS: The mean values of peak sternal viscous criterion and accelerations for the older group and younger group were 1.35 +/- 0.62 m/s, 81.5 +/- 29.2 g and 2.05 +/- 0.5 m/s, 65 +/- 20.1 g, respectively. The maximum forces in the older group (1138 +/- 271.7 N) were significantly higher than those in younger group (776.3 +/- 39 N). In seven specimens, injuries after the impact were found. CONCLUSIONS: The full set of cadaveric injuries did not correlate with peak chest deformation, sternal viscous criterion, or peak fourth thoracic vertebra acceleration. However, cadaver thoracic injury showed a strong dependence on dissipated energy to peak deformation.
Authors: Matthew R Maltese; Kristy B Arbogast; Vinay Nadkarni; Robert Berg; Sriram Balasubramanian; Thomas Seacrist; Richard W Kent; Daniel P Parent; Matthew Craig; Stephen A Ridella Journal: Ann Adv Automot Med Date: 2010
Authors: John F Lamp; Robert Salzar; Jason Kerrigan; Daniel Parent; Francisco Lopez-Valdez; Sabrina Lau; David Lessley; Richard Kent; Jason Luck; Andre Loyd; Cameron Bass Journal: Ann Adv Automot Med Date: 2010