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Bertocci G, Smalley C, Brown N, Dsouza R, Hilt B, Thompson A, Bertocci K, McKinsey K, Cory D, Pierce MC. Head biomechanics of video recorded falls involving children in a childcare setting. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8617. [PMID: 35597795 PMCID: PMC9124183 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12489-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to characterize head biomechanics of video-recorded falls involving young children in a licensed childcare setting. Children 12 to < 36 months of age were observed using video monitoring during daily activities in a childcare setting (in classrooms and outdoor playground) to capture fall events. Sensors (SIM G) incorporated into headbands worn by the children were used to obtain head accelerations and velocities during falls. The SIM G device was activated when linear acceleration was ≥ 12 g. 174 video-recorded falls activated the SIM G device; these falls involved 31 children (mean age = 21.6 months ± 5.6 SD). Fall heights ranged from 0.1 to 1.2 m. Across falls, max linear head acceleration was 50.2 g, max rotational head acceleration was 5388 rad/s2, max linear head velocity was 3.8 m/s and max rotational head velocity was 21.6 rad/s. Falls with head impact had significantly higher biomechanical measures. There was no correlation between head acceleration and fall height. No serious injuries resulted from falls—only 1 child had a minor injury. In conclusion, wearable sensors enabled characterization of head biomechanics during video-recorded falls involving young children in a childcare setting. Falls in this setting did not result in serious injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina Bertocci
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
| | - Craig Smalley
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Nathan Brown
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Raymond Dsouza
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Bret Hilt
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Angela Thompson
- Engineering Fundamentals Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Karen Bertocci
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Keyonna McKinsey
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Danielle Cory
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Mary Clyde Pierce
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Division of Emergency Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA
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McKinsey K, Thompson A, Bertocci G. Investigation of femur fracture potential in common pediatric falls using finite element analysis. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2020; 24:517-526. [PMID: 33115286 DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2020.1837119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
A finite element (FE) model of an 11-month-old child's femur was developed to evaluate fracture risk in short-distance feet-first falls and bed falls. Pediatric material properties were applied to the FE model. Femur loading was derived from previously conducted fall experiments using a child surrogate where fall conditions (e.g., fall height, impact surface) were varied. Fracture thresholds based on principal stress and strain were used to examine potential for fracture. Peak stress/strain were significantly greater for feet-first falls from greater heights and onto harder impact surfaces. Feet-first falls exceeded some, but not all fracture thresholds. Bed falls did not exceed any fracture thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyonna McKinsey
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Angela Thompson
- Department of Engineering Fundamentals, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Gina Bertocci
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
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