Traumatic Brain Injury: Mechanical Response of Porcine Brain Under High Strain Rate Tests

The brain is one of the most critical organs of the human body during life-threatening and injury sustaining accidents. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to mechanical insult of the head is a leading cause of death and life-long disability in the United States. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has estimated that, on average, 1.4 million Americans sustain TBI every year, 20% of which are the result of motor vehicle-traffic accidents. Nearly 50,000 people die of TBI each year. Around 5.3 million Americans currently have long-term disabilities after sustaining a TBI. Some of these long-term disabilities are linked to functional changes affecting thinking, sensation, language and emotions [1]. Direct and indirect medical costs related to TBI amounted to an estimated $60 billion in the United States in 2000 [2]. TBIs have a deep impact on our society and require effective protective measures to curb consequent injuries and disabilities [3].