Thoracic injuries and abdominal injuries still account for high economic costs. They remain significant because of the associated threat to life, the increased possibility of pneumonia in older casualties and their association with injuries to other body regions. In frontal impacts abdominal injuries relating to submarining have decreased due to the improvement of belt systems. However in side impacts liver and spleen injuries are still common. Material properties of thoracic and abdominal organs and their injury mechanisms are not fully understood. The biomechanics of thoracic injuries from frontal impacts and side impacts has been widely researched and tables summarise the results of the most relevant studies. Areas for further knowledge include understanding the differences between cadaver and live responses related to the influence of muscle tension and pressures in the arterial system; improved knowledge of the material properties of internal organs, their injury mechanisms and injury predictors, particularly highly vascular organs such as the aorta, liver and spleen; and new technologies such as personalised restraint performance according to factors such as age and bone strength.
Abstract