Simulation of low-energy impacts on the human hand for prediction of peak reaction forces and bone fracture

Abstract

Hands of workers in extractive and heavy-duty industries are susceptible to suffering injuries of varying severity. Improved safety procedures and new technologies for production and maintenance tasks have contributed to reducing the severity of injuries. However, manual tasks with high-risk factors can still lead to hand injuries. Hand bone fractures and dislocations can be caused by relatively small objects impacting a region of the hand at velocities in the range of 1.3 to 1.6 m per second. This impact can produce significant functional, physical, and psychological consequences in those affected and result in high costs derived from medical care. This study presents the results of a finite element simulation study conducted to reproduce impacts with energies in the range of 7 to 10 Joules of an object on the dorsal region of the hand. Simulation results are compared to previous experimental results obtained from controlled impact tests performed using cadaveric hand specimens. The vertical peak reaction force (PRF) as a function of the impact position was used as a primary outcome for comparisons. Simulation results for all impact positions were within the standard deviation measured experimentally, with differences in the PRF values in the range of −5.3% to 4.9%. Bone stress analyses at the position of impacts showed the locations where the maximum principal stress exceeded the bone strength, as well as the variability in the correspondence between the stress distribution predicted by the FE models and the fracture rate distribution observed experimentally.