Human cadaver knee and hip responses to frontal impacts

This paper discusses an experimental study in which unembalmed human cadavers were exposed to frontal knee impacts using a 52 pound linear impactor at varying speeds and striking surface conditions. Electronic data responses and observed injuries to the lower extremities and hips are presented and compared. Twenty eight impact experiments were performed using fourteen cadavers during this study. During this program the cadaver subjects were instrumented with a force transducer inserted into one femur and triaxial accelerometers attached to each struck knee and the sacrum. Cadaver lower extremities were X-rayed pre-and post-test and dissected post-test and an evaluation of disability was performed and is presented.