Dynamic biomechanical characterization of colon tissue according to anatomical factors

• Published in: Journal of biomechanics 2016-12, Vol.49 (16), p.3861-3867
• Main Authors: Massalou, D, Masson, C, Foti, P, Afquir, S, Baqué, P, Berdah, S.-V, Bège, T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdomen; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomechanical Phenomena; Biomechanics; Circumferences; Colic; Colon; Colon - injuries; Colon - pathology; Colon - physiopathology; Colonic mechanical response; Conflicts of interest; Dynamic solicitation; Dynamics; Elastic Modulus; Female; Human colon; Humans; Injuries; Male; Mechanical analysis; Morphology; Muscle, Smooth - injuries; Muscle, Smooth - pathology; Muscle, Smooth - physiopathology; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Rupture; Small intestine; Stresses
• ISSN: 0021-9290; 1873-2380
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.10.023

Abstract Introduction The aim of this study was to determine the mechanical response of colonic specimens retrieved from the entire human colon and placed under dynamic solicitation until the tissue ruptured. Material and methods Specimens were taken from 20 refrigerated cadavers from different locations of the colonic frame (ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid colon) in two different directions (longitudinal and circumferential), with or without muscle strips (taenia coli). A total of 120 specimens were subjected to tensile tests, after preconditioning, at the speed of 1 m/s. Results High-speed video analysis showed a bilayer injury process with an initial rupture of the serosa / external muscular layer followed by a second rupture of the inner layer consisting of the internal muscle / submucosa / mucosa. The mechanical response was biphasic, with a first point of initial damage followed by a complete rupture. The levels of stress and strain at the failure site were statistically greater in terms of circumferential stress (respectively 69±22% and 1.02±0.50 MPa) than for longitudinal stress (respectively 55±32% and 0.70±0.34 MPa). The difference between longitudinal and circumferential stress was not statistically significant (3.17±2.05 MPa for longitudinal stress and 3.15±1.73 MPa for circumferential stress). The location on colic frame significantly modified the mechanical response both longitudinally and circumferentially, whereas longitudinal taenia coli showed no mechanical influence. Conclusion The mechanical response of the colon specimen under dynamic uniaxial solicitation showed a bilayer and biphasic injury process depending on the direction of solicitation and colic localization. Furthermore these results could be integrated into a numeric model reproducing abdominal trauma to better understand and prevent intestinal injuries.