Pathologic study of thoracic impact injury involving a movable impact pattern.
The left thoracic walls of 28 rabbits were subjected to lateral blunt impact in a movable impact pattern. The impact velocities ranged from 7.95 m/s to 16.13 m/s, and the compression response ranged from 15.69% to 46.14% of the thoracic width. The surviving animals were sacrificed at 6 hours after trauma and were autopsied. Injury scores were assigned according to the hemorrhage area and the injury type (e.g., rupture or rib fracture). When compared with the pathologic characteristics of the thoracic injury involving a relatively static impact pattern, the severity of thoracic injury involving a movable impact pattern was milder. Also there were more significant differences in the severity of injury to lungs and ribs on the left as compared with the right sides. The viscous criterion is still a good parameter reflecting the severity of injury to lungs and heart. The severity of rib injury was mainly related to compression response.
Liu
B
B
Research Institute of Surgery, Third Military Medical University, Daping, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
Wang
Z
Z
Li
X
X
Yang
Z
Z
Leng
H
H
D000818:Animals; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D055370:Lung Injury; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D012272:Ribs / Q000293:injuries; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000473:pathology*