Engineering Aspects of Human Skull Fracture Experimental Study & Theoretical Consideration On Brain Damage

Hideaki MASUZAWA; Kimiyoshi HIRAKAWA; Norio NAKAMURA; Keiji SANO; Masatomo KIHIRA; Tsuyoshi HAYASHI

doi:10.2176/nmc.11.46

Engineering Aspects of Human Skull Fracture

Experimental Study & Theoretical Consideration On Brain Damage

Hideaki MASUZAWA, Kimiyoshi HIRAKAWA, Norio NAKAMURA, Keiji SANO, Masatomo KIHIRA, Tsuyoshi HAYASHI

著者情報

ジャーナルフリー

1971 年 11 巻 p. 46-65

DOI https://doi.org/10.2176/nmc.11.46

詳細

Published: 1971 Received: - Available on J-STAGE: 2007/01/12 Accepted: - Advance online publication: - Revised: -
訂正情報
訂正日: 2007/01/12 訂正理由: - 訂正箇所: 論文サブタイトル訂正内容: Wrong : —Experimental Study & Theoretical Consideration On Brain Damage—
Right : Experimental Study & Theoretical Consideration On Brain Damage

訂正日: 2007/01/12 訂正理由: - 訂正箇所: 論文抄録訂正内容: Wrong : 1) Four dry human skulls were statically compressed in fronto-occipital direction. The forces to produce bone fracture ranged between 600 and 1000 kg weight. The load-deflection curves gave spring rates of 400 to 900 kg/mm, average 600 kg/mm.
2) Semi-free fall test to give impact on twenty dry human skulls at midfrontal regions were performed using a strain-gauge load cell, an accelerometer, DC amplifiers and a cathode-ray oscilloscope. Various buffer materials including the scalp simulator were used.
At fracture notching and abrupt lowering of the load curves as well as high frequency vibration of the acceleration curves were noted. The rise time at fracture became shorter compared to those when fracture did not occur. The dynamic load level for frontal bone fracture was between 400 and 1300 kg, was independent of acceleration, energy, buffer materials as well as rise times. The peak loads at the moment of fracture were closely related to the weights of dry skulls. These results indicate that human skulls have the characteristics of brittle fracture both statically and dynamically.
3) Based on the above conclusions the tolerance limits against brain damage was theoretically considered and the Wayne State Human Tolerance Curve was criticized.
Postulating a head falling brow-down on a hard flat surface without the effect of the body, the threshold for fracture in terms of peak acceleration and rise time is very close to the Wayne State Human Tolerance Curve (H. T. C.). Above this threshold or even when higher energy is applied, the head does not give rise to a higher acceleration but fracture should occur at the same peak acceleration and possibly shorter rise time. This means transition to the safe zone of the H. T. C. Clinically, however, severer brain damage is expected. The H.T.C. and the pressure gradient theory due to translational acceleration should not be applied to brain damage in the presence of fracture. Instead, skull deformation and possibly snap-back of the deformed skull should be considered as the mechanism of the brain damage associated with skull fracture.
Right : 1) Four dry human skulls were statically compressed in fronto-occipital direction. The forces to produce bone fracture ranged between 600 and 1000kg weight. The load-deflection curves gave spring rates of 400 to 900kg/mm, average 600kg/mm.
2) Semi-free fall test to give impact on twenty dry human skulls at midfrontal regions were performed using a strain-gauge load cell, an accelerometer, DC amplifiers and a cathode-ray oscilloscope. Various buffer materials including the scalp simulator were used.
At fracture notching and abrupt lowering of the load curves as well as high frequency vibration of the acceleration curves were noted. The rise time at fracture became shorter compared to those when fracture did not occur. The dynamic load level for frontal bone fracture was between 400 and 1300kg, was independent of acceleration, energy, buffer materials as well as rise times. The peak loads at the moment of fracture were closely related to the weights of dry skulls. These results indicate that human skulls have the characteristics of brittle fracture both statically and dynamically.
3) Based on the above conclusions the tolerance limits against brain damage was theoretically considered and the Wayne State Human Tolerance Curve was criticized.
Postulating a head falling brow-down on a hard flat surface without the effect of the body, the threshold for fracture in terms of peak acceleration and rise time is very close to the Wayne State Human Tolerance Curve (H. T. C.). Above this threshold or even when higher energy is applied, the head does not give rise to a higher acceleration but fracture should occur at the same peak acceleration and possibly shorter rise time. This means transition to the safe zone of the H. T. C. Clinically, however, severer brain damage is expected. The H.T.C. and the pressure gradient theory due to translational acceleration should not be applied to brain damage in the presence of fracture. Instead, skull deformation and possibly snap-back of the deformed skull should be considered as the mechanism of the brain damage associated with skull fracture.

訂正日: 2007/01/12 訂正理由: - 訂正箇所: 著者情報訂正内容: Wrong : Hideaki MASUZAWA¹⁾, Kimiyoshi HIRAKAWA¹⁾, Norio NAKAMURA¹⁾, Keiji SANO¹⁾, Masatomo KIHIRA²⁾, Tsuyoshi HAYASHI²⁾
Right : Hideaki MASUZAWA¹⁾²⁾, Kimiyoshi HIRAKAWA¹⁾, Norio NAKAMURA¹⁾, Keiji SANO¹⁾, Masatomo KIHIRA³⁾, Tsuyoshi HAYASHI³⁾

訂正日: 2007/01/12 訂正理由: - 訂正箇所: 所属機関情報訂正内容: 訂正前 :
1) Department of neurosurgery, Faculty of medicine, University of Tokyo
2) Department of Aeronautics, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo

訂正後 :
1) Department of neurosurgery, Faculty of medicine, University of Tokyo
2) Department of neurosurgery, Fuchu General Hospital
3) Department of Aeronautics, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo

訂正日: 2007/01/12 訂正理由: - 訂正箇所: 引用文献情報訂正内容: Wrong : 1) Hayashi T.: Study of intracranial pressure caused by head impact. J. Faculty of engineering, Univ. of Tokyo (B), 30, 59-72, 1969.
2) Unterharnscheidt F. and Sellier K.: Mechanics and pathomorphology of closed brain injuries, Head injury conference proceedings, ed. W. F. Caveness and A. E. Walker, Philadelphia, J. B. Lippincott, Co., 1966, pp. 321-341.
3) Ommaya A. K., Grubb R. L., Jr. and Naumann, R. A.: Coup and contre-coup injury: Observations on the mechanics of visible brain injuries in the rhesus monkey. J. Neurosurg., 35, 503-516, 1971.
4) Evans E. G., Lissner H. R. and Lebow M.: The relation of energy, velocity and acceleration to skull deformation and fracture. Surg. Gynec. Obst., 107, 593-601, 1958.
5) Kobayashi S.: Head injury and helmet. Brain & Nerve 15, 63-75, 1963 (Jap).
6) Thomas L. M., Sezgin Y., Hodgson, V. R., Cheng L. K. and Gurdjian E. S.: Static deformation and volume changes in the human skull, Proceedings of twelfth Stapp car crash conference, New York, Society of automotive engineers, Inc., 1968.
7) Nahum A. M., Gatts J. D., Gadd C. W. and Danforth J.: Impact tolerance of the skull and face, Proceedings of twelfth Stapp car crash conference, New York, Society of automotive engineers, Inc., 1968.
8) Holcombe H. G. and Herod D. M.: “TRAMASAF” The development of a laboratory instrument for trauma indication, Proceedings of G. M. safety seminar, 1968.
9) Katayama T.: Study on head injury (Experiments using human skull simulators), J. Jap. Surg. Soc. 66, 324-334, 1965 (Jap).
10) Masuzawa H.: Engineering aspects of human skull fracture. Brain and Nerve 24, 547-561, 1972 (Jap).
11) Patrick L. M., Lissner H. R. and Gurdjian E. S.: Survival by design-head protection, Proceedings of seventh Stapp car crash conference. New York, Society of automotive engineers. Inc.. 1963.
12) Hayashi T.: A theory of tolerance limit of acceleration and duration with head impact—especially the theory of Human Tolerance Curve, presented at the subcommittee meeting for impact injury, Japan automobile research institute, Nov. 25 1969, Tokyo.
13) Gadd C. W.: Use of a weighted-impulse criterion for estimating injury hazard, Proceedings of tenth Stapp car crash conference. New York, Society of automotive engineers, Inc., 1966.
14) Lissner H. R., Lebow M. and Evans F. G.: Experimental studies on the relation between acceleration and intracranial pressure changes in man. Surg. Gynec. Obst., 106, 329-338, 1960.
15) Gross A. G.: A new theory on the dynamics of brain concussion and brain injury. J. Neurosurg., 15, 548-561, 1958.

Right : 1) Hayashi T.: Study of intracranial pressure caused by head impact. J. Faculty of engineering, Univ. of Tokyo (B), 30, 59-72, 1969.
2) Unterharnscheidt F. and Sellier K.: Mechanics and pathomorphology of closed brain injuries, Head injury conference proceedings, ed. W. F. Caveness and A. E. Walker, Philadelphia, J. B. Lippincott, Co., 1966, pp. 321-341.
3) Ommaya A. K., Grubb R. L., Jr. and Naumann, R. A.: Coup and contre-coup injury: Observations on the mechanics of visible brain injuries in the rhesus monkey. J. Neurosurg., 35, 503-516, 1971.
4) Evans E. G., Lissner H. R. and Lebow M.: The relation of energy, velocity and acceleration to skull deformation and fracture. Surg. Gynec. Obst., 107, 593-601, 1958.
5) Kobayashi S.: Head injury and helmet. Brain & Nerve 15, 63-75, 1963 (Jap).
6) Thomas L. M., Sezgin Y., Hodgson, V. R., Cheng L. K. and Gurdjian E. S.: Static deformation and volume changes in the human skull, Proceedings of twelfth Stapp car crash conference, New York, Society of automotive engineers, Inc., 1968.
7) Nahum A. M., Gatts J. D., Gadd C. W. and Danforth J.: Impact tolerance of the skull and face, Proceedings of twelfth Stapp car crash conference, New York, Society of automotive engineers, Inc., 1968.
8) Holcombe H. G. and Herod D. M.: “TRAMASAF” The development of a laboratory instrument for trauma indication, Proceedings of G. M. safety seminar, 1968.
9) Katayama T.: Study on head injury (Experiments using human skull simulators), J. Jap. Surg. Soc. 66, 324-334, 1965 (Jap).
10) Masuzawa H.: Engineering aspects of human skull fracture. Brain and Nerve 24, 547-561, 1972 (Jap).
11) Patrick L. M., Lissner H. R. and Gurdjian E. S.: Survival by design-head protection, Proceedings of seventh Stapp car crash conference. New York, Society of automotive engineers, Inc., 1963.
12) Hayashi T.: A theory of tolerance limit of acceleration and duration with head impact-especially the theory of Human Tolerance Curve, presented at the subcommittee meeting for impact injury, Japan automobile research institute, Nov. 25 1969, Tokyo.
13) Gadd C. W.: Use of a weighted-impulse criterion for estimating injury hazard, Proceedings of tenth Stapp car crash conference. New York, Society of automotive engineers, Inc., 1966.
14) Lissner H. R., Lebow M. and Evans F. G.: Experimental studies on the relation between acceleration and intracranial pressure changes in man. Surg. Gynec. Obst., 106, 329-338, 1960.
15) Gross A. G.: A new theory on the dynamics of brain concussion and brain injury. J. Neurosurg., 15, 548-561, 1958.

訂正日: 2007/01/12 訂正理由: - 訂正箇所: PDFファイル訂正内容: -

抄録

1) Four dry human skulls were statically compressed in fronto-occipital direction. The forces to produce bone fracture ranged between 600 and 1000kg weight. The load-deflection curves gave spring rates of 400 to 900kg/mm, average 600kg/mm.
2) Semi-free fall test to give impact on twenty dry human skulls at midfrontal regions were performed using a strain-gauge load cell, an accelerometer, DC amplifiers and a cathode-ray oscilloscope. Various buffer materials including the scalp simulator were used.
At fracture notching and abrupt lowering of the load curves as well as high frequency vibration of the acceleration curves were noted. The rise time at fracture became shorter compared to those when fracture did not occur. The dynamic load level for frontal bone fracture was between 400 and 1300kg, was independent of acceleration, energy, buffer materials as well as rise times. The peak loads at the moment of fracture were closely related to the weights of dry skulls. These results indicate that human skulls have the characteristics of brittle fracture both statically and dynamically.
3) Based on the above conclusions the tolerance limits against brain damage was theoretically considered and the Wayne State Human Tolerance Curve was criticized.
Postulating a head falling brow-down on a hard flat surface without the effect of the body, the threshold for fracture in terms of peak acceleration and rise time is very close to the Wayne State Human Tolerance Curve (H. T. C.). Above this threshold or even when higher energy is applied, the head does not give rise to a higher acceleration but fracture should occur at the same peak acceleration and possibly shorter rise time. This means transition to the safe zone of the H. T. C. Clinically, however, severer brain damage is expected. The H.T.C. and the pressure gradient theory due to translational acceleration should not be applied to brain damage in the presence of fracture. Instead, skull deformation and possibly snap-back of the deformed skull should be considered as the mechanism of the brain damage associated with skull fracture.

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