Utilization of a Novel Method for Measuring Cortical Thickness to Investigate Variation with Age in Male Human Ribs

As computational models of the human thorax are increasingly utilized to investigate injury risk in car crash scenarios, accurate rib cross‐sectional geometry becomes critical to ensure biofidelity of these models. Cortical thickness (Ct.Th) of ribs has been shown to be an important geometric parameter for obtaining accurate number of fractures, fracture location, and structural properties such as failure displacement and loads. Although many methods have been utilized to explore Ct.Th of human ribs, they have been limited by poor resolution of cross‐sectional images, subjectivity and inaccuracy in defining the orientation of Ct.Th lines, and small sample sizes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish an objective and accurate methodology for measuring Ct.Th of human ribs from microscopic cross‐sectional images and investigate trends with age. The sample consisted of 110 mid‐thoracic (levels 4‐7) ribs from 60 male subjects ranging from 18‐88 years of age (mean of 50 ± 20 years). The novel method established and utilized here is deemed superior to existing methods because of its objective nature, increased precision resulting from improved resolution of microscopic images compared to other imaging modalities, and large number of Ct.Th lines for each cortex. The range of values for Ct.Th reported here are comparable to those found in previous studies. One study found Ct.Th values for anterior sections ranging from 0.34‐1.35mm for pleural cortices, 0.16‐0.79mm for cutaneous cortices, 0.18‐1.13mm for superior cortices, and 0.07‐1.13mm for inferior cortices, as well as 0.79‐1.83mm for pleural cortices, 0.22‐ 1.46mm for cutaneous cortices, 0.32‐1.46mm for superior cortices, and 0.3‐1.75mm for inferior cortices for lateral sections from six male subjects ranging from age 42‐81 years (rib levels 4‐7). With the largest R2 value being only 0.25, preliminary work indicates that age, although statistically significant, is not a strong predictor of Ct.Th.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.ircobi.org/wordpress/downloads/irc16/pdf-files/114.pdf
• 
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/22353151
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of the International Council on the Biomechanics of Injury (IRCOBI).
• Corporate Authors:

  International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury (IRCOBI)

  Winkelriedstrasse 27
  Zurich,   Switzerland  CH-8006
• Authors:
  • Murach, Michelle M
  • Bazyk, Andrew
  • Misicka, Elina
  • Kang, Yun‐Seok
  • Moorhouse, Kevin
  • Agnew, Amanda M
• Conference:
  • 2016 IRCOBI Conference
  • Location: Malaga , Spain
  • Date: 2016-9-14 to 2016-9-16
• Publication Date: 2016

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 2p
• Monograph Title: 2016 IRCOBI Conference Proceedings
• Serial:
  • IRCOBI Conference Proceedings
  • Publisher: International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury (IRCOBI)
  • ISSN: 2235-3151
  • Serial URL: http://www.ircobi.org/proceedings.php

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age groups; Biological aging; Bone fractures; Crash injuries; Load tests; Physiology; Ribs; Thorax
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01615171
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 27 2016 9:13AM