An Experimental Model for Closed Head Impact Injury

A series of blunt head impacts has been performed on stationary unembalmed human cadavers. The specimens were prepared to simulate realistic fluid pressures within the cerebrospinal fluid space and cerebral blood vessels. Translational acceleration-time histories of the head were recorded by biaxial accelerometers attached to the skull. Peak resultant head accelerations in excess of 3,000 m/s² and pulse durations of 5 ms. or less were observed in a series of 10 experiments. The cerebral vascular system was perfused with a carbon particle tracer solution. Following impact, careful gross and microscopic pathologic studies of the cranial soft tissues were performed to assess vascular hemorrahage as represented by extravasation of tracer solution into the brain tissue. Data is presented describing the input forcing function, resultant head acceleration, and detailed necropsy findings. The results suggest that the use of this vascular trauma simulation technique may add additional information concerning acceptable acceleration-time limits for closed head injury.