Validation of lower limb surrogates as injury assessment tools in floor impacts due to anti-vehicular land mines.

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of lower limb surrogates to predict injury due to floor/foot plate impact in military vehicles during anti-vehicular land mine explosions. Testing was conducted using two loading conditions simulated to represent those conditions created in the field. The lower condition was represented by a 24-kg mass impactor with a velocity of 4.7 m/s. The higher loading condition was represented by a 37-kg mass impactor with a velocity of 8.3 m/s. Two biomechanical surrogates were evaluated using the loading conditions: 50th percentile Hybrid III foot/ankle and Test Device for Human Occupant Restraint THOR-Lx. Comparisons of the force-time response were made to established corridors. Results show a better correlation to the corridors with the THOR-Lx; however, future improvements to the THOR-Lx are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Military Medicine is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)