This study examined 126 unembalmed cadaver experiments in which the lower extremities are dynamically loaded. The injury data associated with the 126 cadaver leg impacts were examined to determine how well the existing femur injury criteria separate these specific cases. Most of the injuries were fractures although there were some traumas to ligaments and muscles. Statistical analysis was done on the 126 cadaver leg tests to associate injury (AIS number or injury/non-injury) with engineering parameters and anthropometric measurements recorded from the tests. An analysis based on a 10 kN (2250 pound) applied femur force did a reasonable job of separating injury from non-injury. The 10 kN applied femur force point is estimated to represent a 35% probability level of injury. A model did a better job of separating injury from non-injury for this data sample. The model separates injury by using both the maximum applied femur force and the rise time of that force, i.e., the time from initiation of force to when the maximum force occurs. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference, see IRRD 837684.
Abstract