Strain based injury threshold for high-rate non-penetrating blunt trauma induced pulmonary contusion in a finite element ovine thorax model (FE-OTM)

High-rate non-penetrating blunt impacts (NPBI) to the thorax can induce pulmonary contusion. We develop a finite element-based injury metric for pulmonary contusion. The outcomes from an ovine model were compared to strain-based measures in a finite element ovine thorax model. Injury outcome was classified by gross lung injury score (GLIS) and lung injury volume (LIV). LIV was used to determine subject-specific injury thresholds. Values were aggregated into a cumulative distribution function. GLIS and LIV showed reasonable agreement, with GLIS being more inclusive of the overall lung injury severity. The average subject specific-injury threshold was 0.32 ± 0.13 1st principal strain.