Direct Comparison of Structural Bending Properties in Human Ribs With and Without Costal Cartilage

The objective of this study was to quantify how costal cartilage affects rib properties. Fifteen bilateral pairs of 5th human ribs were included in this study. One rib within each pair was tested without costal cartilage while the other rib within each pair was tested with costal cartilage. All ribs underwent AP loading until failure at 2 m/s to simulate that of a frontal impact. Results showed a significant difference in peak force, structural stiffness, CSG2 strain at yield, and PSG2 strain at yield between ribs with costal cartilage and ribs without costal cartilage. On average, the ribs with costal cartilage had a lower force but higher displacement and longer time to fracture compared to the ribs without costal cartilage. This study shows the effect costal cartilage has on both the rib and thorax properties and why it is critical to include the costal cartilage in ATDs and human body models.

Year	Entry
2005	Charpail E, Trosseille X, Petit P, Laporte S, Lavaste F, Vallancien G. Characterization of PMHS ribs: a new test methodology. Stapp Car Crash J. 2005;49:183-198. SAE 2005-22-0009.
2010	Li Z, Kindig MW, Kerrigan JR, Untaroiu CD, Subit D, Crandall JR, Kent RW. Rib fractures under anterior–posterior dynamic loads: experimental and finite-element study. J Biomech. January 19, 2010;43(2):228-234.
1998	Zioupos P, Currey JD. Changes in the stiffness, strength, and toughness of human cortical bone with age. Bone. January 1998;22(1):57-66.
2003	Martínez L, Ferichola G, Guerra LJ, Van Ratingen M, Hynd D. Biofidelity and repeatability evaluation of the thor dummy thorax, abdomen and femur, through a set of tests. In: Proceedings of the 2003 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 25, 2003; Lisbon, Portugal.311-325.
2011	Kindig M, Lau AG, Kent RW. Biomechanical response of ribs under quasistatic frontal loading. Traffic Inj Prev. August 2011;12(4):377-387.
2010	Kindig MW, Lau AG, Forman JL, Kent RW. Structural response of cadaveric ribcages under a localized loading: stiffness and kinematic trends. Stapp Car Crash J. 2010;54:337-380. SAE 2010-22-0015.
2008	Lau A, Oyen ML, Kent RW, Murakami D, Torigaki T. Indentation stiffness of aging human costal cartilage. Acta Biomater. 2008;4(1):97-103.
2009	Vezin P, Berthet F. Structural characterization of human rib cage behavior under dynamic loading. Stapp Car Crash J. 2009;53:93-125. SAE 2009-22-0004.
2008	Kent R. Frontal thoracic response to dynamic loading: the role of superficial tissues, viscera and the rib cage. Int J Crashworthiness. 2008;13(3):289-300.
2005	Oyen ML, Murakami D, Kent RW. Mechanical characterization of costal cartilage. In: Proceedings of the 33rd International Workshop on Human Subjects for Biomechanical Research. 2005.189-203.
2010	Forman JL, del Pozo de Dios E, Arregui Dalmases C, Kent RW. The contribution of the perichondrium to the structural mechanical behavior of the costal-cartilage. J Biomech Eng. September 2010;132(9):094501.
2008	Kent R, Woods W, Bostrom O. Fatality risk and the presence of rib fractures. In: 52nd Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 6-8, 2008; San Diego, CA.73-82.
2004	Roy R, Kohles SS, Zaporojan V, Peretti GM, Randolph MA, Xu J, Bonassar LJ. Analysis of bending behavior of native and engineered auricular and costal cartilage. J Biomed Mater Res. March 2004;A68A(4):597-602.
1992	Pattimore D, Thomas P, Dave SH. Torso injury patterns and mechanisms in car crashes: an additional diagnostic tool. Injury. 1992;23(2):123-126.
2006	Murakami D, Kobayashi S, Torigaki T, Kent R. Finite element analysis of hard and soft tissue contributions to thoracic response: sensitivity analysis of fluctuations in boundary conditions. Stapp Car Crash J. 2006;50:169-189. SAE 2006-22-0008.
2011	Pipkorn B, Kent R. Validation of a human body thorax model and its use for force, energy and strain analysis in various loading conditions. In: Proceedings of the 2011 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 14-16, 2011; Krakow, Poland.210-223.
2011	Forman JL, Kent RW. Modeling costal cartilage using local material properties with consideration for gross heterogeneities. J Biomech. March 15, 2011;44(5):910-916.

Year

Entry

2005

Charpail E, Trosseille X, Petit P, Laporte S, Lavaste F, Vallancien G. Characterization of PMHS ribs: a new test methodology. Stapp Car Crash J. 2005;49:183-198. SAE 2005-22-0009.

2010

Li Z, Kindig MW, Kerrigan JR, Untaroiu CD, Subit D, Crandall JR, Kent RW. Rib fractures under anterior–posterior dynamic loads: experimental and finite-element study. J Biomech. January 19, 2010;43(2):228-234.

1998

Zioupos P, Currey JD. Changes in the stiffness, strength, and toughness of human cortical bone with age. Bone. January 1998;22(1):57-66.

2003

Martínez L, Ferichola G, Guerra LJ, Van Ratingen M, Hynd D. Biofidelity and repeatability evaluation of the thor dummy thorax, abdomen and femur, through a set of tests. In: Proceedings of the 2003 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 25, 2003; Lisbon, Portugal.311-325.

2011

Kindig M, Lau AG, Kent RW. Biomechanical response of ribs under quasistatic frontal loading. Traffic Inj Prev. August 2011;12(4):377-387.