MECHANISMS OF IMPACT HEAD-INJURY

A review of research on brain trauma mechanisms operative during head impact is presented from a clinically relevant biomechanical perspecti ve. Emphasis is placed on microscopic mechanisms, gleaned from isolate d neural tissue and cellular biomechanics research, and their relation to macro sale mechanisms observed in head injury victims and in exper imental physical model experiments. Experimental and clinico-pathologi c research, past and ongoing, substantiating the centripetal theory fo r concussive brain injury is also reviewed in the context of recent ad vancements in computations biomechanics of head injury brought about b y the expanding availability of high speed super computers and brain i maging. A synopsis of our current computational research activities in head impact simulation is presented and some preliminary results are cited.