Citation

Meaney DF, Thibault LE, Gennarelli TA. Proc. IRCOBI 1994; 22: 51-62.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Diffuse brain injury is a form of severe brain injury which occurs primarily in vehicular accidents, and is responsible for 35% of the deaths in severely head injured patients. A coordinated series of animal experiments, physical and analytical simulations, and isolated tissue tests have been used to formulate a tolerance criterion for concussion and more severe forms of diffuse axonal injury in man, but the relationship between the tolerance criteria and measurable vehicle crash parameters has not been studied.In this report the kinematics of the occupant in an idealized side impact are studied. Results suggest the importance of head contact to generate the inertial loading conditions to cause diffuse brain injuries in minor to moderate collisions. The conclusions regarding the importance of head contact in producing brain injuries is supported by recent epidemiological studies.