The Development of Pulmonary Contusion Finite Element Model Metrics from Real World Simulations

Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are the leading cause of blunt chest trauma, and pulmonary contusion (PC) is a common injury following this type of insult. Over 38% of the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 3+ thoracic injuries were identified as some form of PC in a recent National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) study. In 2009, 33,808 Americans were killed in a MVC and 2.22 million more were injured resulting in a large number of occupants exposed to these traumatic events with the potential for pulmonary contusion. Even non-fatal occurrences of this injury can result in long term diminished respiratory function and an increased risk of complications. If 20% of the lung volume is injured, the patient has a significantly higher risk of developing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Therefore, volumetric measurement of pulmonary contusion can predict possible clinical outcomes to appropriately plan treatment for these patients. The purpose of this dissertation research was to better understand crash parameters that may be predictive of this injury and develop finite element metrics to create an injury risk criterion for pulmonary contusion.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Danelson, Kerry

• Atlas Registration

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/36434

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/36434