Experimental head trauma models: a clinical perspective

The investigation of the biomechanics, biochemistry and functional changes occurring with significant head trauma is a very active and interesting area of scientific research by investigators of many disciplines. Using a variety of head trauma model systems, a tremendous amount of basic knowledge on what occurs to the injured brain has been accumulated over the last two to three decades. Ongoing research on the basic pathophysiology of head trauma as well as on the investigation of potentially useful therapeutic modalities is a current research trend. While a cross-disciplinary approach is necessary and useful in this rapidly expanding area of investigation, much of what is reported is technically difficult to understand and the clinical implications of the stated findings may not be clearly obvious. Some model systems are more suitable to study particular traumatic lesions that are others, and some systems have built-in limitations which must be acknowledged in data interpretation. This articles describes and evaluates some of the currently used head trauma model systems and reviews these systems from a clinician's standpoint.