Nonlinear dynamic analysis of the pure \u201cbuckling\u201d mechanism during blow-out trauma of the human orbit

Marcin Adam Zmuda Trzebiatowski,Mateusz Koberda,Andrzej Skorek,Paweł Lemski,Paweł Kłosowski,Krzysztof Żerdzicki

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-72186-1

Marcin Adam Zmuda Trzebiatowski, Mateusz Koberda + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-72186-1

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Abstract

Considering the interplay between orbital bones and intraorbital soft tissues, commonly accepted patterns of the blow-out type of trauma within the human orbit require more thorough investigation to assess the minimal health-threatening impact value. Two different three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) models of the human orbital region were developed to simulate the pure “buckling” mechanism of orbital wall fracture in two variants: the model of orbital bone elements and the model of orbital bone, orbit and intraorbital tissue elements. The mechanical properties of the so-defined numerical skull fragment were applied to the model according to the unique laboratory tensile stress tests performed on small and fragile specimens of orbital bones as well as using the data available in the literature. The nonlinear transient analysis of the contact problem between bodies that differ substantially in terms of the Young’s modulus was carried out to investigate the interaction of different bodies within an instant injury. Potential damage areas were found within the lower orbital wall as well as the destructive load values for both FEM skull models (7,660 N and 8,520 N). Moreover, numerical simulations were validated by comparing them with computed tomography scans of real injuries.

Highlights

Considering the interplay between orbital bones and intraorbital soft tissues, commonly accepted patterns of the blow-out type of trauma within the human orbit require more thorough investigation to assess the minimal health-threatening impact value
Fractured sites often facilitate the herniation of intraorbital bodies, so they may become constrained by the rim of the fractured area as well as the trapdoor displacement of a thin orbital bone segment[4]
This research is aimed both at characterizing the mechanical properties of the orbit and investigating the role of soft tissue in modeling the “buckling” mechanism of human orbital fracture by constructing two different finite element method (FEM) models: a model of orbital bone elements (MOBE) and a model of orbital bone, orbit and intraorbital tissue elements (MOBOSE)

Summary

Introduction

Considering the interplay between orbital bones and intraorbital soft tissues, commonly accepted patterns of the blow-out type of trauma within the human orbit require more thorough investigation to assess the minimal health-threatening impact value. Two different three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) models of the human orbital region were developed to simulate the pure “buckling” mechanism of orbital wall fracture in two variants: the model of orbital bone elements and the model of orbital bone, orbit and intraorbital tissue elements. Regardless of the time that has passed, patients suffering from blow-out fracture of an orbital wall are still considered to experience a serious diagnosis and therapeutic p roblem[1,2] Such trauma requires strict cooperation between physicians representing a variety of different specializations, such as otolaryngologists, ophthalmologists, neurosurgeons, and maxillofacial and plastic surgeons[3]. Nagasao et al.[15] presented a study on the pure “buckling” mechanism within the shell FEM model based on real human skull geometry. Further works by Al Sukhun et al as well as Patel et al and Foletti et al did not omit the intraorbital soft tissues during the numerical analysis of blow-out fracture[18,19,20,21]

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