Investigation of femur fracture potential in common pediatric falls using finite element analysis

Abstract

A finite element (FE) model of an 11-month-old child’s femur was developed to evaluate fracture risk in short-distance feet-first falls and bed falls. Pediatric material properties were applied to the FE model. Femur loading was derived from previously conducted fall experiments using a child surrogate where fall conditions (e.g., fall height, impact surface) were varied. Fracture thresholds based on principal stress and strain were used to examine potential for fracture. Peak stress/strain were significantly greater for feet-first falls from greater heights and onto harder impact surfaces. Feet-first falls exceeded some, but not all fracture thresholds. Bed falls did not exceed any fracture thresholds.

Keywords:

• Children
• femur fracture
• falls
• biomechanics
• computer model

Disclosure statement

The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to report.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R03HD078491. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.