Scaled biomechanical corridors are derived from scaled 50th percentile male data, which have been shown to be insufficient in capturing pediatric biomechanical responses. The objective of this study is to collect biomechanical responses of a 15-year-old (15YO) head-neck complex to be compared to the corridors obtained through a traditional scaling method. A mini-sled was used, as in previous tests with head-neck complexes of adult male post-mortem human subjects (PMHS), to conduct dynamic testing on a 15YO PMHS head-neck complex. Results were compared to those developed from the previously collected scaled adult data to assess a traditional scaling technique (e.g. Irwin and Mertz). The traditional scaling technique mostly underestimated several pediatric responses when compared to 15YO PMHS head-neck responses in a simulated frontal impact. Comparing true pediatric head-neck biomechanical responses to those derived from the traditional scaling method will provide insight into the need for further refinement of scaling techniques, which will lead to accurate biomechanical corridors and will enhance injury prevention for the pediatric population.
Keywords:
Cervical spine; pediatric; head-neck complex; scale factor; traditional scaling technique