Biomechanics of Ankle and Hindfoot Injuries in Dynamic Axial Loading 2000-01-SC23
Twenty-three Post Mortem Human Surrogate (PMHS) limbs were
impacted using a test set up that was developed to simulate the
loading conditions seen in a frontal collision. Articulation
studies were performed on each limb prior to impact.
Failure occurred at impact loads of 5.7+/-1.9 kN (resultant
tibial failure load 6.4+/-1.9 kN) and the following injuries were
generated: 9 intra-articular calcaneal fractures; 1 talar neck and
2 talar body fracture; 3 intra-articular distal tibial (pilon)
fractures; 2 malleolar fractures; 3 soft tissue injuries and 3 had
no detectable injury.
The impact test conditions were replicated with a Hybrid III leg
in a first attempt at developing injury risk functions for the
dummy.
This study has demonstrated the significance of pre-load through
muscle tension and the intrinsic properties of PMHS specimens in
the generation of severe ankle and hindfoot injury.