Characterization of focal muscle compression under impact loading

In modern wars over 70% of combat wounds are to the extremities. These injuries are characterized by disruption and contamination of the limb soft tissue envelope. The extent of this tissue trauma and contamination determine the outcome of the extremity injury. In military injury, common post-trauma...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Butler, B. J., Sory, D. R., Nguyen, T.-T. N., Proud, W. G., Williams, A., Brown, K. A.
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Subjects:
Contamination
Disruption
Impact loads
Injuries
Muscles
Optical microscopy
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Summary:In modern wars over 70% of combat wounds are to the extremities. These injuries are characterized by disruption and contamination of the limb soft tissue envelope. The extent of this tissue trauma and contamination determine the outcome of the extremity injury. In military injury, common post-traumatic complications at amputation sites include heterotopic ossification (formation of bone in soft tissue), and severe soft tissue and bone infections. We are currently developing a model of soft tissue injury that recreates pathologies observed in combat injuries. Here we present characterization of a controlled focal compression of the rabbit flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) muscle group. The FCU was previously identified as a suitable site for studying impact injury because its muscle belly can easily be mobilized from the underlying bone without disturbing anatomical alignment in the limb. We show how macroscopic changes in tissue organization, as visualized using optical microscopy, can be correlated with data from temporally resolved traces of loading conditions.
ISSN:0094-243X
1551-7616
DOI:10.1063/1.4971721