Biomechanics of Injuries to the Foot and Ankle Joint of Car Drivers and Improvements for an Optimal Car Floor Development 922514

In the study 140 belt-protected car drivers with foot fractures, distortions and luxations were analysed and the injury mechanisms in the car interior which are responsible for the occurance of foot fractures were defined. Accident documentations carried out from 1985 to 1990 by the traffic accident research of Hannover are the basis of these investigations.

It was established that foot fractures for car drivers are, to an amount of 1.3%, quite rare. In view of the fact, however, that foot fractures result in a rather high rate of injury consequences in treatment it is shown that the demand for modifications of the vehicle interior is justified. The study demonstrates that two characteristic mechanisms must be regarded seperately: This is on the one hand in direct succession the force mechanism which always results from footroom deformations. On the other hand it is a simple supporting and slip-off mechanism of the feet which may already occur in connection with lesser accident severities and without footroom deformations. In the study vehicle-technique solutions are recommended for the reduction of foot injuries.