Biomechanical analysis of controlled tibial bluntforce trauma

Abstract

The analysis and interpretation of skeletal injuries caused by blunt force trauma (BFT) is often critical to reconstructing a victim’s osteological profile. The manner in which bone fractures in response to BFT is a complex multiphasic process that involves interactions between mechanical force, skin and the musculo-skeletal system. To further improve our understanding of how bone fractures under mechanical force, this study investigated whether a quantifiable relationship was discernible between force and specific fracture outcomes (maximum fracture length, total fragment count and total anterior/posterior radiating fracture lines) and how anatomical factors influenced those outcomes. Fleshed sheep tibiae (Ovis aries, n = 30) were subjected to three conditions of force (90 N, 112 N and 135 N), ten tibiae at each force. Results indicate that a significant relationship exists between force and fracture length with respect to 90 N and 112 N force outcomes. No significant relationship was discernible between the level of force and the outcome variables of total fragment count and total anterior/posterior radiating fracture lines. These preliminary results suggest there is potential for further analysis of bone fracture behaviour under mechanical force with consideration to a broader suite of soft tissue and skeletal variables.