FORCE TRANSMISSION AND STRESS-DISTRIBUTION IN A COMPUTER-SIMULATED MODEL OF THE KIDNEY - AN ANALYSIS OF THE INJURY MECHANISMS IN RENAL TRAUMA

Injury mechanisms in renal trauma were investigated by analyzing the s tress distributions within a two-dimensional computer-simulated model of the kidney, In biomechanics, damage to biological tissue is primari ly caused by stresses resulting in tissue deformation beyond recovery limits. Segmental surface force was applied to the model and the resul ting stress distributions were analyzed. Maximum stress concentrations were found at the periphery of the kidney model. Stresses were caused by the combined effect of the applied force and the reaction generate d by the liquid-filled inner compartment as a function of its hydrosta tic pressure, Maximum stress concentrations corresponded to typical in jury sites observed clinically, Our findings suggest that a similar me chanism may play a crucial role in renal trauma. Renal injuries as wel l as the higher trauma susceptibility of hydronephrotic kidneys and re nal cysts could thus be explained. The role of computer models in inju ry biomechanics research is discussed.