C. Got

Pelvic injuries in side impact collisions: a field accident analysis and dynamic tests on isolated pelvic bones

Firstly, a field accident analysis was carried out in order to document the lesions and the injury mechanisms encountered in lat impact. The accident database of the Laboratory of Accidentology Biomechanics (LAB) in France was used, and a sample of 219 injure occupants sustaining 381 injuries in lateral collision enables to evaluate the most frequent injuries and their location. These injuries were also analyzed with regard to car characteristics. Secondly, an experimental study of the pelvic bony structure subjected to dynamic loads was carried out in order to document i biomechanical behaviour and its lesion threshold. Twelve pelvises were tested under side loading conditions. Displacement, accelerations, applied force, and local strains of the pubic rami were obtained. The main conclusions drawn out from the two parall studies were: (1) There was a good agreement between the real lif observations and those coming from the dynamic tests; and (2) the fracture threshold was well bordered by the chosen energy level o impact, and consequently, a first corridor including the behaviou the pelvic bony structure up to the level of injury is proposed.( For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD E201172.