Linking Head Kinematics and Multi-Modal Imaging Using a Finite Element Head Model to Assess mTBI Risk Mitigation

轻度创伤性脑损伤(MTBI)，通常被称为脑震荡，可能是由于头部快速加速导致的，导致头痛、头晕、对噪音敏感和注意力难以集中等症状。这种症状还与接触性体育运动员以及最近加拿大特种作战部队司令部(CANSOFCOM)操作员反复接触亚震荡有关。这些症状与暴露于大口径武器的后坐力有关，并与暴露的次数有关。该项目旨在建立以下之间的联系：在常规训练期间暴露于后坐力的志愿者所测量的头部运动学；头部有限元模型预测的相应脑组织变形；先进的多模式磁共振成像，以确定与重复暴露相关的功能、生理和结构变化；并最终评估防护装备。这项研究的结果将直接为CANSOFCOM操作员提供培训程序、监测方案和暴露限值，以确保安全并减少职业暴露对后坐力的任何长期影响。重要的是，这项研究还将量化一种新的防护服对减弱后座力引起的快速头部运动的效果。这项研究项目将提供对反复暴露的影响的见解，这可能会向发生mTBI的体育和其他部门提供信息。

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), commonly termed concussion, may result from rapid acceleration of the head, leading to symptoms including headache, dizziness, sensitivity to noise and difficulty concentrating. Such symptoms have also been associated with repeated sub-concussive exposures in contact sports athletes and more recently in Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) operators. The symptoms have been associated with exposure to recoil forces from large calibre weapons and correlated with the number of exposures. This project seeks to establish linkages between: the measured kinematics of the head from volunteers exposed to recoil forces during regular training; the corresponding deformation of the brain tissue predicted by a head finite element model; advanced multi-modal MRI to identify functional, physiological and structural changes associated with repeated exposures; and ultimately to assess protective equipment. The results of this research will directly inform training procedures, monitoring protocols and exposure limits for CANSOFCOM operators to ensure safety and reduce any long term effects from occupational exposures to recoil forces. Importantly, this investigation will also quantify the efficacy of a new protection garment for attenuating the rapid head motion resulting from recoil forces. This research project will provide insights into the effects of repeated exposures that may inform sports and other sectors where mTBI occurs.