Technical Paper
Parametric Study of Head Impact in the Infant
2007-10-29
2007-22-0001
Computer finite element model (FEM) simulations are often used as a substitute for human experimental head injury studies to enhance our understanding of injury mechanisms and develop prevention strategies. While numerous adult FEM of the head have been developed, there are relatively few pediatric FEM due to the paucity of material property data for children. Using radiological serial images of infants (<6wks old) and recent published material property data of infant skull and suture, we developed a FEM of the infant head to study skull fracture from occipital impacts. Here we determined the relative importance of brain material properties and anatomical variations in infant suture and scalp tissue on principal stress (σp) estimates in the skull of the model using parametric simulations of occipital impacts from 0.3m falls onto concrete.