Technical Paper
Deflection of the Human Thorax Under Sternal Impact-La Dèformation du Thorax Humain sous Impact Sternal (Milieu du Sternum)-Verformung des Menschlichen Thorax hei Stoessen Gegen das Brustbein
1970-02-01
700400
For the purpose of increasing available knowledge of human dynamic response and tolerance to thoracic impact, and experimental investigation of both blunt and localized impacts to embalmed and unembalmed human cadavers is being carried out. This is a progress report to date. Force and deflection time histories resulting from midsternal A-P impacts over a six inch diameter area and from blows localized near the costo-chrondral junctions were measured and cross plotted to provide dynamic force-deflection characteristics. The extent of skeletal damage was assessed by both radiological examination and thoracic dissection and is presented in relation to the impact parameters. X-ray assessment of rib fracture damage was found to be inadequate, revealing on the average less than half of the fractures confirmed by dissection.