Abdominal impact study on paediatric cadaveric subjects

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide structural response of front abdominal impact in children. Nine unembalmed cadavers were divided into two groups. A young cohort aged 2-4 years (four cadavers) and an older cohort aged 5-12 years (five cadavers) were impacted. An autopsy was performed after the impact. The average velocity of the cadaveric tests was 6.3 m/s (±0.25 m/s). Mean peak V*C values were 2.53±0.59 m/s and 1.98±0.41 m/s in old cadaveric cohort and young cadaveric cohort respectively (p > 0.05). The maximum deformation and mean peak forces were 9.27±0.21 cm, 530.30±102.62 N and 9.88±1.50 cm, 929.16±133.24 N in young cohort and old cohort separately (p < 0.05). Eight cadavers were found with various injuries. Good force-deformation data may be derived from the cadaveric response data, and force/deformation corridors have been derived for both subject populations.