Retrospective Analysis of Injuries in Underbody Blast Events: 2007-2010

Abstract

Underbody Blast (UBB) exposure emerged as a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality of Service Members in Iraq and Afghanistan, which was unique to OIF/OEF due to the frequent use of improvised explosive devices. Improvised explosive devices under the vehicle delivered high-rate vertical loading to the vehicle translating energy to the occupant(s) resulting in injuries. Injury mitigating technologies needed to be developed; however, technologies rely on biomechanical human response data for research and development. Widely accepted human response corridors have been developed and established for slower frontal and side impact exposures. Currently, there are no accepted human response data for high-rate vertical exposures, like those experienced during UBB events. To understand the mechanisms and replicate the exposures, analyses of injuries caused by UBB events were required. Medical injury data from UBB events during OIF/OEF were examined. Data were categorized by disposition, body region, injury type, and severity. Data analyses were performed on 555 Service Members receiving a total of 3,844 injuries. The Torso and the Head/face regions were the most injured and sustained predominately fractures/dislocations and internal organ injuries. This work will allow others to prioritize injuries to develop the methodology required to create response metrics to improve energy mitigating technology.