This study consists of two phases. In phase I, a containment fixture was designed and manufactured to stabilize and preload isolated human pelves within a DYNATUP TM Drop Tower during simulated automotive side impact. The fixture was utilized during thirteen parametric tests aimed at determining boundary conditions which simulate inertial properties of whole cadavers during impacts of the isolated human pelvis. The resulting pelvic injuries ranged from no fracture to complex acetabular fracture. Phase II studies used nine additional human pelves to explored pelvis stiffness and pubis symphysis mobility under lateral impact to the greater trochanter. The containment device designed and tested in phase I was utilized to stabilize and compressively preload the specimens during impact. The resulting pelvic injuries ranged from no fracture to nondisplaced acetabular fracture. The average lateral displacement of the pubic symphysis during impact was 31.1 plus/minus 8.1 mm. The average anterior-posterior (AP) displacement was 0.6 plus/minus 6.8 mm anterior to the position prior to impact. The average final position of the pubic symphysis was 19.7 plus/minus 9.4 mm lateral and 1.9 plus/minus 5.7 mm anterior to the original position. The average lateral compression across the pubic symphysis joint was 1.3 plus/minus 0.04 mm. The average pelvic compression during impact as measured between the anterior inferior iliac spines was 11.2 plus/minus 6.1 mm (5.87 plus/minus 3.03 % pelvic compression).
Samenvatting