Correlation between facial trauma and brain injury – A finite element study

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine the relationship between facial and brain injuries, using a subjectspecific finite element (FE) model of human head. Nine common impact scenarios of facial injuries are simulated. Both extracranial and intracranial injuries are evaluated based on the tolerance limits of the biomechanical parameters. General trend of maximum intracranial biomechanical parameters occurring in nasal bone and zygomaticomaxillary bone impacts indicates that severity of brain injury is highly associated with the proximity of location of impact to the brain. It is hypothesized that the midface is capable of absorbing considerable energy and protecting the brain from impact. We also propose that the nasal cartilages dissipate the impact energy in the form of large scale deformation and fracture, with the vomer-ethmoid diverging stress to the “crumpling zone” of air-filled sphenoid and ethmoidal sinuses; in its most natural manner, the face protects the brain. This numerical study hopes to provide surgeons some insight in what possible brain injuries to be expected in various scenarios of facial trauma and to help in better diagnosis of unsuspected brain injury, thereby resulting in decreasing the morbidity and mortality associated with facial trauma.