Reply to Moss et al.: Military and medically relevant models of blast-induced traumatic brain injury vs. ellipsoidal heads and helmets

Abstract

Moss et al. (1) acknowledge the second main conclusion of Nyein et al. (2): that a face shield may significantly mitigate blast-induced traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, they obviate the first and most important finding: that the advanced combat helmet (ACH) does not amplify the overpressure experienced by the head, as suggested by Moss et al. in the letter in ref. 3; therefore, it is safe for blast exposure. As has been shown repeatedly in theater, the ACH provides significant protection against shrapnel and ballistic threats.