Z Altai1, M Viceconti1, X Li2, A C Offiah3. 1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sheffield, UK; Insigneo Institute for in silico Medicine, University of Sheffield, UK. 2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sheffield, UK; Insigneo Institute for in silico Medicine, University of Sheffield, UK. Electronic address: xinshan.li@sheffield.ac.uk. 3. Insigneo Institute for in silico Medicine, University of Sheffield, UK; Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield, UK.
Abstract
AIM: To use personalised computed tomography (CT)-based finite element models to quantitatively investigate the likelihood of self-inflicted humeral fracture in non-ambulant infants secondary to rolling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three whole-body post-mortem CT examinations of children at the age of rolling (two 4-month-old and one 6-month-old) were used. The mechanical moment needed by each infant to perform a rolling manoeuvre was calculated and applied to the finite element model in order to simulate spontaneous rolling from the prone to the supine position. RESULTS: The maximum predicted strains were found to be substantially lower (with a difference of >80%) than the elastic limit of the bone. CONCLUSION: Results of this study challenge the plausibility of self-inflicted humeral fracture caused by rolling in non-ambulant infants and indicate that it is unlikely for a humeral fracture to result from this mechanism without the assistance of an external force.
AIM: To use personalised computed tomography (CT)-based finite element models to quantitatively investigate the likelihood of self-inflicted humeral fracture in non-ambulant infants secondary to rolling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three whole-body post-mortem CT examinations of children at the age of rolling (two 4-month-old and one 6-month-old) were used. The mechanical moment needed by each infant to perform a rolling manoeuvre was calculated and applied to the finite element model in order to simulate spontaneous rolling from the prone to the supine position. RESULTS: The maximum predicted strains were found to be substantially lower (with a difference of >80%) than the elastic limit of the bone. CONCLUSION: Results of this study challenge the plausibility of self-inflicted humeral fracture caused by rolling in non-ambulant infants and indicate that it is unlikely for a humeral fracture to result from this mechanism without the assistance of an external force.