A biomechanical analysis serves to establish a relation between the physical parameters of an accident (e.g. delta-v of the car) and the recorded complaints and medical findings. In an interdisciplinary co-operation between specialised experts from the medical and the technical domain, also the individual features of the involved person are considered. Typical questions include:
- Can the recorded symptoms and the medical findings be explained solely by the mechanical loadings during the event?
- In view of the particular situation in question and the mechanical loadings, are any injuries to be expected at all? If yes, what kind of injuries?
- Were the safety belts/ the helmet used? If the safety belt had been used, would this have led to a different outcome/ injury severity?
- Would the injury potential change if the basic assumptions were changed (e.g. what would have happened if the car had hit the pedestrian with a different velocity)?
Data needed
In addition to the technical documentation (cf. accident reconstruction) allowing to estimate the biomechanical loadings during the event, reports of e.g. emergency units, medical reports of the first examinations after the event or coroner reports are needed for the biomechanical analysis. Of importance are in particular the body height and weight, the medical status before the event, degenerative antecedents and the results of medical imaging examinations. Whenever possible, information on e.g. the posture (seating position, posture of the head, bracing movements) should be produced.
Contact: Dr. M. H. Muser / Dr. med. Chr. Lanz