Wrist Injuries from Impact Loading
One of the most common injuries observed by orthopedic surgeons is the distal radius fracture. The typical injury mechanism is a fall on the outstretched hand, thereby producing an axial compressive force across the wrist on the distal forearm. There are many names for fractures of the distal radius, such as Colles, Smith, Barton, and Pouteau. Unfortunately, there is limited published data on the dynamic loading required to cause these injuries. Research is being performed currently to quantify the risk of wrist injuries subject to impact loading. This injury criteria will have applications in automobile safety and elderly wrist injuries from falls.
REFERENCES:
Duma, S.M., "Injury Criteria for the Small Female Upper Extremity," Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Virginia, August, 2000.Virginia Tech / Wake Forest University Center for Injury Biomechanics