Title: Prediction of subdural haematoma based on a 3D finite element human head model

Authors: Shamik Sarkar, Amit Roychowdhury, Ujjalbhanu Ghosh

Addresses: Department of Applied Mechanics and Drawing, Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur, Howrah 711103, West Bengal, India. ' Department of Applied Mechanics and Drawing, Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur, Howrah 711103, West Bengal, India. ' School of Bioscience and Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India

Abstract: Subdural haematoma (SDH) is a very common injury associated with in-house as well as traffic accidents. A high level of relative motion between the skull and the brain causes laceration in the cerebral bridging veins followed by acute SDH. This article describes finite element-based simulations and analysis of mechanical responses in the skull-brain complex in accident-like situations to study and assess SDH in the human head. A 3D finite element model of the human head was prepared by reconstructing CT images, and subsequently simulated at real life impact situations using explicit finite element codes. The Green-Lagrangian strain in bridging veins has been computed by post-processing finite element results for every possible orientation and position of bridging veins. It has been observed that occipital (back) impact is most likely to cause SDH, and that vein length plays the predominant role over vein angle in inducing strain. The possibility of vein rupture increases with head size.

Keywords: biomechanics; cerebral bridging veins; finite element method; FEM; head injuries; SDH; subdural haematoma; human head modelling; vehicle safety; simulation; accidents; occipital impact; back impact; vein length; vein angle; strain; vein rupture; head size.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVS.2008.024712

International Journal of Vehicle Safety, 2008 Vol.3 No.3, pp.276 - 294

Published online: 16 Apr 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article