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Mechanisms of injury and biomechanics: Vehicle design and crash performance

  • World Progress In Surgery
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Abstract

This paper reviews briefly the early evolution of the subject of the biomechanics of impacts. Some examples of rule-making of vehicle crash performance are cited to illustrate the need for evaluation of all design changes and regulations in the real world of crashes and injuries. Some background data on the relative frequencies of causalties and types of collisions are given to establish overall priorities. Mechanisms of injuries in frontal collisions for unrestrained and restrained occupants are described to illustrate the relationships between interior localized contacts and injuries to the lower limbs, the chest, and the head. Kinematics of occupants in angled, lateral, and rear collisions are reviewed together with the related injury mechanisms, and rollover crashes with and without seat belt use are mentioned. Motorcyclist and pedestrian kinematics and some of the desirable characteristics of the vehicle exterior are described together with the unfortunate consequences of the current bumper standards. In summary the paper aims to be a general review of crash kinematics and general mechanisms of injury.

Résumé

L'évolution des idées concernant la biomécanique des impacts est exposée. Quelques exemples de la performance des voitures au cours d'un accident sont donnés pour illustrer le besoin d'évaluer tout changement de “design” et de réglementation des voitures par rapport au monde “réel” des accidents et traumatismes. Quelques chiffres concernant la féquence des lésions et les types de collisions sont données pour situer le fond du problème et exposer les priorités globales. Le mécanisme des lésions résultant des collisions de face selon que les occupants de la voiture sont ceinturés ou non sont décrits pour illustrer les rapports entre les points d'impact intérieur de la voiture et la distribution des lésions du thorax, de la tête, et des membres. Les cinétiques des occupants, avec ou sans ceinture, et les lésions qui en résultent sont décrits selon que le choc vient de face, de l'arrière, sur le côté, ou sous un angle donné, ainsi que lors des accidents avec retournement de voiture. Les cinétiques des motocyclistes et des piètons dans un accident sont décrits en même temps que l'enumération des caractéristiques souhaitables pour la conception et réalisation de la forme des pare-chocs par rapports aux standards actuellement en vigeur. Pour résumer, le but de cet article est de faire une revue des cinétiques des accidents et des mécanismes responsables des lésions.

Resumen

Este artículo revisa brevements la evolución inicial del tema de la biomecánica de los impactos. Se citan algunos ejemplos de la normatización sobre comportamiento del automotor en un choque para ilustrar la necesidad de evaluar los cambios en diseño y las regulaciones en el mundo real de los accidentes y el trauma. Se presentan datos sobre la incidencia relativa de muertes y de tipos de colisión para establecer prioridades globales. Se describen los mecanismos de las lesiones en las colisions frontales en ocupantes con y sin cinturón de seguridad para ilustrar la relación entre contactos interiores localizados y lesiones de las extremidades inferiores, el tórax y la cabeza. Se revisa la quinemática de los ocupantes en colisiones angulares laterales y posteriores junto con los mecanismos de las lesiones asociadas, y se mencionan los choques con volcamiento en ocupantes con y sin cinturones de seguridad. Se describe la quinemática de motociclistas y de peatones, y algunas de las características deseables en cuanto al exterior del vehículo junto con las desafortunadas consecuencias de los actuales estándares de los “bumpers”. En resumen, el artículo pretende ser una revisión general de la quinemática de los choques y de los mecanismos generales del trauma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Accident Research Unit, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England

    Murray Mackay S.M., Ph.D., D.Sc. (F.I. Mech. E.)

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  1. Murray Mackay S.M., Ph.D., D.Sc.
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Mackay, M. Mechanisms of injury and biomechanics: Vehicle design and crash performance. World J. Surg. 16, 420–427 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02104441

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