Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 6, 2026
Method and Instrumented Fixture for Femoral Fracture Testing in a Sideways Fall-on-the-Hip Position
Published on: August 17, 2017
Investigating rolling as mechanism for humeral fractures in non-ambulant infants: a preliminary finite element study
Z Altai1, M Viceconti1, X Li1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sheffield, UK; Insigneo Institute for in silico Medicine, University of Sheffield, UK.
Insights
Self-inflicted humeral fractures in infants are unlikely to be caused by rolling alone. Biomechanical analysis shows bone strain during rolling is far below fracture thresholds, suggesting external forces are necessary.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Forensic Science
Background:
- Humeral fractures in infants can be challenging to diagnose, with rolling being a potential mechanism of injury.
- Understanding the biomechanics of infant rolling is crucial for injury assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively assess the biomechanical forces involved in infant rolling.
- To determine the likelihood of self-inflicted humeral fractures in non-ambulant infants due to rolling using personalized computed tomography (CT)-based finite element models.
Main Methods:
- Utilized post-mortem CT scans from three infants (4-6 months old).
- Calculated the mechanical moment required for rolling maneuvers.
- Simulated spontaneous rolling using finite element models to analyze bone strain.
Main Results:
- Predicted bone strains during simulated rolling were over 80% lower than the elastic limit of bone.
- The forces generated during rolling were insufficient to cause humeral fracture.
Conclusions:
- The study challenges the plausibility of self-inflicted humeral fractures in infants solely from rolling.
- Humeral fractures in this age group likely require external forces beyond those generated by spontaneous rolling.
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.
More Related Videos
07:35Creating Rigidly Stabilized Fractures for Assessing Intramembranous Ossification, Distraction Osteogenesis, or Healing of Critical Sized Defects
Published on: April 11, 2012
06:59Fracture Apparatus Design and Protocol Optimization for Closed-stabilized Fractures in Rodents
Published on: August 14, 2018
