Tolerance and Response of the Knee-Femur-Pelvis Complex to Axial Impact

This report is intended to define the tolerance and response of the human patella-femur-pelvis complex to axial impact force appl ied to the knee of seated vehicle occupants. The results of direct impact and driving point impedance neasurements of the flexed legs of seated unembalmed human cadavers is presented. Comparisons of the cadaver responses are made with similar tests on a Part 572 test dummy. A total of 58 individual impact tests to the knees of cadavers were conducted for various impact test conditions — rigid, lightly padded and thickly padded impact surfaces. Accident investigation data analysis is used as an aid to interpreting the test results.

Keywords: Lower extremity fractures, Knee impact, Part 572 dummy, Unembalmed Human Cadaver

Year	Entry
1977	Seiffert UW. Performance of the VW automatic restraint system. In: Proceedings of the 1977 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 7-9, 1977; Berlin, Germany.108-119.
1969	Wilson RA. Evaluating knee-to-instrument panel impacts. In: Proceedings of the 13th Stapp Car Crash Conference. December 2-4, 1969; Boston, MA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:134-148. SAE 690801.
1974	Powell WR, Advani SH, Clark RN, Ojala SJ, Holt DJ. Investigation of femur response to longitudinal impact. In: Proceedings of the 18th Stapp Car Crash Conference. December 4-5, 1974; Ann Arbor, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:539-556. SAE 741190.
1975	Powell WR, Ojala SJ, Advani SH, Martin RB. Cadaver femur responses to longitudinal impacts. In: Proceedings of the 19th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 17-19, 1975; San Diego, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:561-579. SAE 751160.
1965	Patrick LM, Kroell CK, Mertz HJ. Forces on the human body in simulated crashes. In: Cragun MK, ed. Proceedings of the 9th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 20-21, 1965; Minneapolis, MN. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:237-259. SAE 650961.
1967	Patrick LM, Mertz HJ Jr, Kroell CK. Cadaver knee, chest and head impact loads. In: Proceedings of the 11th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 10-11, 1967; Anaheim, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:168-182. SAE 670913.
1976	Horsch JD, Patrick LM. Cadaver and dummy knee impact response. In: Proceedings of the 20th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 18-20, 1976; Dearborn, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE 760799.

Year

Entry

1977

Seiffert UW. Performance of the VW automatic restraint system. In: Proceedings of the 1977 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 7-9, 1977; Berlin, Germany.108-119.

1969

Wilson RA. Evaluating knee-to-instrument panel impacts. In: Proceedings of the 13th Stapp Car Crash Conference. December 2-4, 1969; Boston, MA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:134-148. SAE 690801.

1974

Powell WR, Advani SH, Clark RN, Ojala SJ, Holt DJ. Investigation of femur response to longitudinal impact. In: Proceedings of the 18th Stapp Car Crash Conference. December 4-5, 1974; Ann Arbor, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:539-556. SAE 741190.

1975

Powell WR, Ojala SJ, Advani SH, Martin RB. Cadaver femur responses to longitudinal impacts. In: Proceedings of the 19th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 17-19, 1975; San Diego, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:561-579. SAE 751160.

1965

Patrick LM, Kroell CK, Mertz HJ. Forces on the human body in simulated crashes. In: Cragun MK, ed. Proceedings of the 9th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 20-21, 1965; Minneapolis, MN. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:237-259. SAE 650961.

1967

Patrick LM, Mertz HJ Jr, Kroell CK. Cadaver knee, chest and head impact loads. In: Proceedings of the 11th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 10-11, 1967; Anaheim, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:168-182. SAE 670913.

1976

Horsch JD, Patrick LM. Cadaver and dummy knee impact response. In: Proceedings of the 20th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 18-20, 1976; Dearborn, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE 760799.

Year	Entry
1980	Melvin JW, Nusholtz GS. Tolerance and Response of the Knee-Femur-Pelvis Complex to Axial Impacts: Impact Sled Tests. Ann Arbor, MI: Highway Safety Research Institute; June 1980. Report No. UM-HSRI-80-27.
1986	Nyquist GW. Injury tolerance characteristics of the adult human lower extremities under static and dynamic loading. In: Biomechanics and Medical Aspects of Lower Limb Injuries. Symposium on Biomechanics and Medical Aspects of Lower Limb Injuries; October 29-30, 1986; San Diego, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineering:79-90. SAE 861925.
2015	Rupp JD. Knee, thigh, and hip injury biomechanics. In: Yoganandan N, Nahum AM, Melvin JW, eds. Accidental Injury: Biomechanics and Prevention. 3rd ed. New York: Springer; 2015:471-497.
1978	Viano DC, Haut RC, Golocovsky M, Absolon K. Factors influencing biomechanical response and closed chest trauma in experimental thoracic impacts. In: 22nd Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). July 10-14, 1978; Ann Arbor, MI.67-82.
2007	Rupp JD, Miller CS, Reed MP, Madura NH, Ritchie NL, Schneider LW. Characterization of knee impacts in frontal crashes. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 18-21, 2007; Lyon, France.
2005	Miller CS, Madura NH, Reed MP, Ritchie NL, Schneider LW, Rupp JD. Development of methods to investigate the effects of knee angle and quadriceps tendon tension on patella kinematics and knee fracture tolerance due to knee bolster loading in frontal impacts. In: Proceedings of the 33rd International Workshop on Human Subjects for Biomechanical Research. 2005.87-102.
1980	Viano DC. Femoral impact response and fracture. In: Proceedings of the 1980 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 9-11, 1980; Birmingham, England.261-272.
1990	Kajzer J, Cavallero C, Ghanouchi S, Bonnoit J, Ghorbel A. Response of the knee joint in lateral impact: effect of shearing loads. In: Proceedings of the 1990 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 12-14, 1990; Lyon, France.293-304.
1997	Taylor A, Morris A, Thomas P, Wallace A. Mechanisms of lower extremity injuries to front seat car occupants: an in depth accident analysis. In: Proceedings of the 1997 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 24-26, 1997; Hannover, Germany.53-72.
2023	Carpenter RL, Berthelson PR, Donlon J-P, Forman JL. Quantifying female subject-specific knee-thigh-hip responses in frontal impact scenarios. In: Proceedings of the 2023 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 13-165, 2023; Cambridge, United Kingdom.978-1012.
2005	Ritchie NL, Schneider LW, Miller CS, Madura NH, Rupp JD. Determining the effects of quadriceps tendon tension on patellar kinematics and knee injury pattern during frontal-impact knee loading. In: Proceedings of the 1st Ohio State University Injury Biomechanics Symposium. May 19-21, 2005; Columbus, OH.
2002	Rupp JD, Reed MP, Van Ee CA, Kuppa S, Wang SC, Goulet JA, Schneider LW. The tolerance of the human hip to dynamic knee loading. Stapp Car Crash J. 2002;46:211-228. SAE 2002-22-0011.
2003	Rupp JD, Reed MP, Jeffreys TA, Schneider LW. Effects of hip posture on the frontal impact tolerance of the human hip joint. Stapp Car Crash J. 2003;47:21-33. SAE 2003-22-0002.
2008	Rupp JD, Miller CS, Reed MP, Madura NH, Klinich KD, Schneider LW. Characterization of knee-thigh-hip response in frontal impacts using biomechanical testing and computational simulations. Stapp Car Crash J. 2008;52:421-474. SAE 2008-22-0017.
1980	Viano DC, Stalnaker RL. Mechanisms of femoral fracture. J Biomech. 1980;13(8):701-715.
1989	Viano DC, King AI, Melvin JW, Weber K. Injury biomechanics research: an essential element in the prevention of trauma. J Biomech. 1989;22(5):403-417.
2004	Rupp JD, Schneider LW. Injuries to the hip joint in frontal motor-vehicle crashes: biomechanical and real-world perspectives. Orthop Clin North Am. 2004;35(4):493-504.
2006	Rupp JD. Biomechanics of Hip Injuries in Frontal Motor-Vehicle Crashes [PhD thesis]. University of Michigan; 2006.
2009	Chang C-Y. Prediction of the Effects of Lower-Extremity Muscle Forces on Knee, Thigh, and Hip Injuries in Frontal Motor Vehicle Crashes [PhD thesis]. University of Michigan; 2009.

Year

Entry

1980

Melvin JW, Nusholtz GS. Tolerance and Response of the Knee-Femur-Pelvis Complex to Axial Impacts: Impact Sled Tests. Ann Arbor, MI: Highway Safety Research Institute; June 1980. Report No. UM-HSRI-80-27.

1986

Nyquist GW. Injury tolerance characteristics of the adult human lower extremities under static and dynamic loading. In: Biomechanics and Medical Aspects of Lower Limb Injuries. Symposium on Biomechanics and Medical Aspects of Lower Limb Injuries; October 29-30, 1986; San Diego, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineering:79-90. SAE 861925.

2015

Rupp JD. Knee, thigh, and hip injury biomechanics. In: Yoganandan N, Nahum AM, Melvin JW, eds. Accidental Injury: Biomechanics and Prevention. 3rd ed. New York: Springer; 2015:471-497.

1978

Viano DC, Haut RC, Golocovsky M, Absolon K. Factors influencing biomechanical response and closed chest trauma in experimental thoracic impacts. In: 22nd Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). July 10-14, 1978; Ann Arbor, MI.67-82.

2007

Rupp JD, Miller CS, Reed MP, Madura NH, Ritchie NL, Schneider LW. Characterization of knee impacts in frontal crashes. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 18-21, 2007; Lyon, France.