Temporal bone fracture under lateral impact: biomechanical and macroscopic evaluation

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Trauma research
• Human anatomy

Background:

• Petrous fractures are a common consequence of head injuries.
• Understanding the biomechanical properties of the temporal bone is critical for injury prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the biomechanical properties and macroscopic analysis of petrous fractures resulting from lateral impact.
• To provide data for the development and validation of finite element models of head injury.

Main Methods:

• Seven embalmed human cadaver heads were subjected to lateral impact testing at 2 m/s.
• Computed tomography (CT) scans, macroscopic evaluation, and anatomical dissection were used to collect anthropometric and pathological data.
• Biomechanical data, including failure forces, deflections, and accelerations, were recorded.

Main Results:

• The head exhibited a nonlinear structural response to dynamic loading.
• Mean failure force was 7.1 kN, mean deflection was 9.1 mm, and mean stiffness was 1.3 kN/mm.
• Lateral impacts resulted in fractures in all seven heads, with temporal bone fractures observed in six cases.

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrated high homogeneity in biomechanical and pathological results.
• No significant correlation was found between anthropometric, biomechanical, and pathological data.
• The obtained data are valuable for refining finite element models used in head injury research.