scholarly journals Ballistic Helmets: Their Design, Materials, and Performance Against Traumatic Brain Injury

Author(s):  
S. G. Kulkarni ◽  
X.-L. Gao ◽  
N. V. David ◽  
S. E. Horner ◽  
J. Q. Zheng

Protecting a soldier’s head from injury is critical to function and survivability. Traditionally, combat helmets have been utilized to provide protection against shrapnel and ballistic threats, which have reduced head injuries and fatalities. However, home-made bombs or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have been increasingly used in theatre of operations since the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly blast-induced TBI, which is typically not accompanied by external body injuries, is becoming increasingly prevalent among injured soldiers. The response of personal protective equipment, especially combat helmets, to blast events is relatively unknown. There is an urgent need to develop head protection systems with blast protection/ mitigation capabilities in addition to ballistic protection. Modern military operations, ammunitions, and technology driven war tactics require a lightweight headgear that integrates protection mechanisms (against ballistics, blasts, heat, and noise), sensors, night vision devices, and laser range finders into a single system. The current paper provides a comparative study on the design, materials, ballistic and blast performance of the combat helmets used by the U.S. Army based on a comprehensive and critical review of existing studies. Mechanisms of ballistic energy absorption, effects of helmet curvatures on ballistic performance, and performance measures of helmets are discussed. Properties of current helmet materials (including Kevlar® K29 and K129 fibers, and thermoset resins) and future candidate materials for helmets (such as nano-composites, thermoplastic polymers, and carbon fibers) are elaborated. Also, experimental and computational studies on blast-induced TBI are examined, and constitutive models developed for brain tissues are reviewed. Finally, the effectiveness of current combat helmets against TBI is analyzed along with possible avenues for future research.

2013 ◽  
Vol 101 ◽  
pp. 313-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.G. Kulkarni ◽  
X.-L. Gao ◽  
S.E. Horner ◽  
J.Q. Zheng ◽  
N.V. David

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily L. Dennis ◽  
Karen Caeyenberghs ◽  
Robert F. Asarnow ◽  
Talin Babikian ◽  
Brenda Bartnik-Olson ◽  
...  

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in children in both developed and developing nations. Children and adolescents suffer from TBI at a higher rate than the general population; however, research in this population lags behind research in adults. This may be due, in part, to the smaller number of investigators engaged in research with this population and may also be related to changes in safety laws and clinical practice that have altered length of hospital stays, treatment, and access to this population. Specific developmental issues also warrant attention in studies of children, and the ever-changing context of childhood and adolescence may require larger sample sizes than are commonly available to adequately address remaining questions related to TBI. The ENIGMA (Enhancing NeuroImaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis) Pediatric Moderate-Severe TBI (msTBI) group aims to advance research in this area through global collaborative meta-analysis. In this paper we discuss important challenges in pediatric TBI research and opportunities that we believe the ENIGMA Pediatric msTBI group can provide to address them. We conclude with recommendations for future research in this field of study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 886-887
Author(s):  
Andrei Irimia ◽  
Ammar Dharani ◽  
Van Ngo ◽  
David Robles ◽  
Kenneth Rostowsky

Abstract Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) affects white matter (WM) integrity and accelerates neurodegeneration. This study assesses the effects of age, sex, and cerebral microbleed (CMB) load as predictors of WM integrity in 70 subjects aged 18-77 imaged acutely and ~6 months after mTBI using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Two-tensor unscented Kalman tractography was used to segment and cluster 73 WM structures and to map changes in their mean fractional anisotropy (FA), a surrogate measure of WM integrity. Dimensionality reduction of mean FA feature vectors was implemented using principal component (PC) analysis, and two prominent PCs were used as responses in a multivariate analysis of covariance. Acutely and chronically, older age was significantly associated with lower FA (F2,65 = 8.7, p < .001, η2 = 0.2; F2,65 = 12.3, p < .001, η2 = 0.3, respectively), notably in the corpus callosum and in dorsolateral temporal structures, confirming older adults’ WM vulnerability to mTBI. Chronically, sex was associated with mean FA (F2,65 = 5.0, p = 0.01, η2 = 0.1), indicating males’ greater susceptibility to WM degradation. Acutely, a significant association was observed between CMB load and mean FA (F2,65 = 5.1, p = 0.009, η2 = 0.1), suggesting that CMBs reflect the acute severity of diffuse axonal injury. Together, these findings indicate that older age, male sex, and CMB load are risk factors for WM degeneration. Future research should examine how sex- and age-mediated WM degradation lead to cognitive decline and connectome degeneration after mTBI.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamilton Roschel ◽  
Bruno Gualano ◽  
Sergej M. Ostojic ◽  
Eric S. Rawson

There is a robust and compelling body of evidence supporting the ergogenic and therapeutic role of creatine supplementation in muscle. Beyond these well-described effects and mechanisms, there is literature to suggest that creatine may also be beneficial to brain health (e.g., cognitive processing, brain function, and recovery from trauma). This is a growing field of research, and the purpose of this short review is to provide an update on the effects of creatine supplementation on brain health in humans. There is a potential for creatine supplementation to improve cognitive processing, especially in conditions characterized by brain creatine deficits, which could be induced by acute stressors (e.g., exercise, sleep deprivation) or chronic, pathologic conditions (e.g., creatine synthesis enzyme deficiencies, mild traumatic brain injury, aging, Alzheimer’s disease, depression). Despite this, the optimal creatine protocol able to increase brain creatine levels is still to be determined. Similarly, supplementation studies concomitantly assessing brain creatine and cognitive function are needed. Collectively, data available are promising and future research in the area is warranted.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-89
Author(s):  
ATM Ashadullah ◽  
Monirul Islam ◽  
Fazley Elahi Milad ◽  
Abdullah Alamgir ◽  
Md Shafiul Alam

Traumatic Brain Injury leads to serious consequences. Approximately half of all deaths is related to traumatic injury and the main cause of head trauma. Extradural haematomas (EDH) develops in all major head injuries. A head injury patient who is only temporary loss of consciousness and is left asleep may sometimes be found dead in the bed next morning due to extradural haematoma. Extradural haematoma which lies in between the inner surface of skull and stripes of dural membrane, are nearly always caused by, and located near a skull fracture. The collection takes several forms in terms of size, location, speed of development and effects they exert on patient. Immediate management is necessary to decrease the bad consequences. In this review the management of traumatic brain injury is highlighted.J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll, 2014; 6(2):87-89


Brain Injury ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 639-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lakshmi Srinivasan ◽  
Brian Roberts ◽  
Tamara Bushnik ◽  
Jeffrey Englander ◽  
David A. Spain ◽  
...  

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. e016694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sareh Zarshenas ◽  
Laetitia Tam ◽  
Angela Colantonio ◽  
Seyed Mohammad Alavinia ◽  
Nora Cullen

IntroductionMany studies have assessed the predictors of morbidity/mortality of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in acute care. However, with the increasing rate of survival after TBI, more attention has been given to discharge destinations from acute care as an important measure of clinical priorities. This study describes the design of a systematic review compiling and synthesising studies on the prognostic factors of discharge settings from acute care in patients with TBI.Methods and analysisThis systematic review will be conducted on peer-reviewed studies using seven databases including Medline/Medline in-Process, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane CENTRAL, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Supplemental PubMed. The reference list of selected articles and Google Scholar will also be reviewed to determine other relevant articles. This study will include all English language observational studies that focus on adult patients with TBI in acute care settings. The quality of articles will be assessed by the Quality in Prognostic Studies tool.Ethics and disseminationThe results of this review will provide evidence that may guide healthcare providers in making more informed and timely discharge decisions to the next level of care for patient with TBI. Also, this study will provide valuable information to address the gaps in knowledge for future research.Trial registration numberTrial registration number (PROSPERO) is CRD42016033046.


2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelle M. Sander ◽  
Kacey Little Maestas ◽  
Allison N. Clark ◽  
Whitney N. Havins

The purpose of the current paper was to conduct a systematic review of the literature on predictors of emotional distress in caregivers of persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to provide evidence-based classification for prognostic variables to guide future research and clinical practice. A search was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases. The citations of resulting articles were also reviewed. Twenty-eight articles met inclusion criteria and were retained for review. Reviews were conducted in accordance with the 2011 edition of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Guidelines for classifying evidence for prognostic studies. Data abstraction revealed one Class I study, four Class II studies, eight Class III studies, and 15 Class IV studies. Results of the review indicated that caregivers’ report of neurobehavioural problems in the person with injury is a probable predictor of emotional distress for caregivers of persons with complicated mild, moderate or severe TBI (Class B evidence). The level of participation in the person with injury, level of support needed by the person with injury, and family systems functioning are probably predictors of emotional distress for caregivers of persons with severe TBI (Class B evidence). Executive functioning impairment in the person with injury, pre-injury emotional distress in caregivers, caregiver age, caregivers’ use of emotion-focused coping, and social support may possibly be risk factors for caregivers’ emotional distress (Class C evidence). Recommendations for future research and implications for assessment and treatment of family caregivers are discussed.


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