Evaluating thoracolumbar spine response during simulated underbody blast impact using a total human body finite element model

Abstract

In a study of spine injuries in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) from 2001-09, spinal fractures sustained by mounted soldiers accounted for 26% of all injuries, and of that, 43% were caused by explosions [1]. The thoracolumbar region is the most vulnerable area of the spine [2], and injuries are often incapacitating, making egress from vehicles difficult. Injury prediction from such events continues to remain a challenge due to the limited availability of studies specifically focused on underbody blasts (UBB) and criteria on related injuries. This study focuses on developing and validating the spine response of an updated 50th percentile male Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) Finite Element (FE) model using instrumented post-mortem human subject (PMHS) laboratory tests under two unique conditions. The model was validated against response corridors created using scaled thoracic (T12, T8, T5, T1) and sacrum (S1) spine Z-axis accelerations obtained from WSU whole-body PMHS tests. The scores for the updated spine model ranged from 0.557 – 0.756 for condition 1 (Seat- 4 m/s in 10 ms; Floor- 6 m/s in 5 ms) and 0.639–0.849 for condition 2 (Seat- 4 m/s in 55 ms; Floor- 8 m/s in 2 ms). The PMHS tests sustained spinal injuries in the thoracolumbar region. The validated model indicates high stress and strain concentrations at the same locations, providing an explanation for the fractures sustained in the PMHS tests.