Application of Analytic Morphomics for Belted Elderly Occupants in Frontal Crashes

In this study, we used analytic morphomics to understand the mechanisms of rib fracture for older occupants in frontal crashes. Analytic morphomics extracts body features from computed tomography scans of people involved in vehicle crashes who have been treated at the University of Michigan, a Level‐1 trauma center. Chest injury and rib fracture patterns were examined in belted, front row occupants involved in frontal crashes from the International Center for Automotive Medicine database. Among these occupants, two age groups (younger and older) with the maximum abbreviated injury scale of chest region > 3 (MAISthx 3+) were categorized. The location of each rib fracture was compared between the groups. Regression analyses were conducted to investigate fracture outcomes considering risk factors including vehicle, demographics, and morphomics. The rib fractures of belted occupants were mainly located under the path of the shoulder belt. For the older group, fracture patterns tended to be located in the anterior region but also bilaterally. Moreover, morphomic factors related to rib shape are the major driver of rib fracture for the older group. The current results for rib shape can highlight the importance of considering these morphomics characteristics when assessing chest injury and creating elderly computer models.