Accidental Injury : Biomechanics and Prevention

Writing on accidental injury often seems to occur from one of two perspec­ tives. One perspective is that of those involved in aspects of injury diagnosis and treatment and the other is that of those in the engineering and biologic sciences who discuss mechanical principles and simulations. From our point of view, significant information problems exist at the inter­ face: Persons in the business of diagnosis and treatment do not know how to access, use, and evaluate theoretical information that does not have obvious practical applications; persons on the theoretical side do not have enough real­ life field data with which to identify problems or to evaluate solutions. The ideal system provides a constant two-way flow of data that permits continuous problem identification and course correction. This book attempts to provide a state-of-the-art look at the applied bio­ mechanics of accidental-injury causation and prevention. The authors are recognized authorities in their specialized fields. It is hoped that this book will stimulate more applied research in the field of accidental-injury causation and prevention. Alan M. Nahum John W. Melvin vii Contents Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . vii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 1 The Application of Biomechanics to the Understanding of Injury and Healing .................................. 1 Y. C. Fung Chapter 2 Instrumentation in Experimental Design . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 12 . . Warren N. Hardy Chapter 3 The Use of Public Crash Data in Biomechanical Research 49 Charles P. Compton Chapter 4 Anthropomorphic Test Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 66 . . . . . Harold J. Mertz Chapter 5 Radiologic Analysis of Trauma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 85 . . . . . Front Matter....Pages i-xii The Application of Biomechanics to the Understanding of Injury and Healing....Pages 1-11 Instrumentation in Experimental Design....Pages 12-48 The Use of Public Crash Data in Biomechanical Research....Pages 49-65 Anthropomorphic Test Devices....Pages 66-84 Radiologic Analysis of Trauma....Pages 85-101 A Review of Mathematical Occupant Simulation Models....Pages 102-150 Development of Crash Injury Protection in Civil Aviation....Pages 151-185 Occupant Restraint Systems....Pages 186-197 Biomechanics of Bone....Pages 198-223 Biomechanics of Soft Tissues....Pages 224-246 Skull and Facial Bone Trauma: Experimental Aspects....Pages 247-267 Brain Injury Biomechanics....Pages 268-291 Biomechanics of Human Trauma: Head Protection....Pages 292-310 Biomechanical Aspects of Cervical Trauma....Pages 311-361 The Biomechanics of Thoracic Trauma....Pages 362-390 Biomechanics of Abdominal Trauma....Pages 391-428 Injury to the Thoraco-Lumbar Spine and Pelvis....Pages 429-459 Injury to the Extremities....Pages 460-491 Child Passenger Protection....Pages 493-511 Isolated Tissue and Cellular Biomechanics....Pages 512-537 Vehicle Interactions with Pedestrians....Pages 539-566 Back Matter....Pages 567-577 The study of accidental injury lies at the interface between medical diagnosis and treatment on the one hand, and research on biomechanical principles of tissue organization. This volume presents chapters written by widely-recognized authorities in the field of human traumatic injury, and covers topics ranging from automobile restraint systems to cell and tissue biomechanics. Accidental Injury: Biomechanics and Prevention will be of interest to a wide variety of scholars and professionals, including physicians; researchers in biomechanics; mechanical, biomedical and automotive engineers; and attorneys and jurists involved in accidental injury cases.