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A Test Bed to Examine Helmet Fit and Retention and Biomechanical Measures of Head and Neck Injury in Simulated Impact
Published on: September 21, 2017
In-vitro head and neck response to impact
Journal of Biomechanical Engineering
|November 1, 1983
Summary
Human cadaver head-neck systems subjected to forehead impact showed no fractures. Results align with artificial replica tests, validating their use in biomechanical studies.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Anatomy
- Trauma Research
Background:
- Understanding head-neck injury mechanisms is crucial for safety.
- Cadaveric models offer realistic biomechanical responses.
- Previous research utilized artificial replicas with varying success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the biomechanical response of human cadaver head-neck systems to blunt forehead impact.
- To compare cadaveric test results with those from artificial head-neck replicas.
- To evaluate the potential for skull and vertebral fractures under specific impact conditions.
Main Methods:
- Instrumented unembalmed and embalmed human cadaver head-neck systems.
- Central forehead impact using a 3.07-kg aluminum shell at 50-345 cm/s.
- Measured occipital skull accelerations, disk pressures, and system deformation via high-speed camera.
Main Results:
- Cadaveric head-neck systems were subjected to controlled forehead impacts.
- Occipital accelerations, disk pressures, and deformations were recorded.
- Results demonstrated good agreement with prior tests using artificial head-neck replicas.
- No skull or vertebral fractures were observed in initial or terminal X-ray examinations.
Conclusions:
- Human cadaveric head-neck systems provide reliable data for impact studies.
- Artificial head-neck replicas demonstrate comparable results to cadaveric models.
- The tested impact parameters did not induce fractures in human cadaver head-neck structures.
