Rib Geometry Explains Variation in Dynamic Structural Response: Potential Implications for Frontal Impact Fracture Risk

Overview

Journal Ann Biomed Eng

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2017 May 27

PMID 28547660

Citations 10

Authors

Michelle M Murach

Yun-Seok Kang

Samuel D Goldman

Michelle A Schafman

Stephen H Schlecht

Kevin Moorhouse

John H Bolte 4th

Amanda M Agnew

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The human thorax is commonly injured in motor vehicle crashes, and despite advancements in occupant safety rib fractures are highly prevalent. The objective of this study was to quantify the ability of gross and cross-sectional geometry, separately and in combination, to explain variation of human rib structural properties. One hundred and twenty-two whole mid-level ribs from 76 fresh post-mortem human subjects were tested in a dynamic frontal impact scenario. Structural properties (peak force and stiffness) were successfully predicted (p < 0.001) by rib cross-sectional geometry obtained via direct histological imaging (total area, cortical area, and section modulus) and were improved further when utilizing a combination of cross-sectional and gross geometry (robusticity, whole bone strength index). Additionally, preliminary application of a novel, adaptive thresholding technique, allowed for total area and robusticity to be measured on a subsample of standard clinical CT scans with varied success. These results can be used to understand variation in individual rib response to frontal loading as well as identify important geometric parameters, which could ultimately improve injury criteria as well as the biofidelity of anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) and finite element (FE) models of the human thorax.

Citing Articles

Probabilistic Finite Element Analysis of Human Rib Biomechanics: A Framework for Improved Generalizability.

Kote V, Frazer L, Shukla A, Bailly A, Hicks S, Jones D Ann Biomed Eng. 2024; .

PMID: 38955891 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-024-03571-4.

Investigating the Impact of Blunt Force Trauma: A Probabilistic Study of Behind Armor Blunt Trauma Risk.

Kote V, Frazer L, Hostetler Z, Jones D, Davis M, Opt Eynde J Ann Biomed Eng. 2024; .

PMID: 38922366 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-024-03564-3.

Population trends in human rib cross-sectional shapes.

Holcombe S, Huang Y, Derstine B J Anat. 2024; 244(5):792-802.

PMID: 38200705 PMC: 11021607. DOI: 10.1111/joa.13999.

Functionally graded 3D printed plates for rib fracture fixation.

Gupta R, Judkins L, Friday C, Ulsh J, Kovach 3rd S, Mehta S Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2023; 111:106151.

PMID: 37989063 PMC: 10842059. DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.106151.

Cross-sectional properties of rib geometry from an adult population.

Holcombe S, Huang Y Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2023; 11:1158242.

PMID: 37284235 PMC: 10239965. DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1158242.

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