The University of Adelaide CENTRE FOR AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY RESEARCH

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TitleBrain injuries in car occupants: a correlation of impact data with neuropathological findings
AuthorsSimpson DA, Ryan GA, Paix BR, McLean AJ, Kloeden CN, Blumbergs PC, Scott G
Year1991
TypeConference Paper
AbstractThis study is based on 26 car occupants who were fatally injured or who sustained a severe head injury in crashes near Adelaide, South Australia. Crash reconstruction techniques were used to estimate the acceleration of the head in 17 cases. These accelerations were correlated with the severity and distribution of brain injury as determined by neuropathological and/or radiological examination. Estimated linear accelerations ranged from 1000 m/s2 to 6600 m/s2. There was a positive association between linear acceleration and the extent of haemorrhagic brain injury, in lateral, but not frontal, impacts to the head. The estimated angular accelerations ranged from 6000 rad/s2 to 50,000 rad/s2 and showed a similar positive association with the extent of brain injury in lateral impacts. For the entire group of cases there were 15 frontal impacts to the head, 7 lateral impacts, three occipital impacts and in one case the location impact was not known. Lateral impacts were more likely to be associated with death than were frontal impacts at similar levels of acceleration.
PublisherInternational Research Council on the Biomechanics of Injury
Publisher CityZurich
Conference Name1991 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impacts
Conference AbbreviationIRCOBI
Conference LocationBerlin, Germany
Conference Date11-13 September 1991
Page Count12
Notesavailable from CASR library on request

Reference
Simpson DA, Ryan GA, Paix BR, McLean AJ, Kloeden CN, Blumbergs PC, Scott G (1991). Brain injuries in car occupants: a correlation of impact data with neuropathological findings. 1991 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impacts, Berlin, Germany, 11-13 September 1991.