Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Finite element method has become an important means for biomechanical study against sideways falls because of its unlimited sample size, small experimental error and good repeatability.
OBJECTIVE: To establish three-dimensional normal pelvis and brace-covered pelvis models and then to analyze the stress, strain and displacement distribution during sideways fall and to verify the effectiveness of hip brace.
METHODS: Digital human Abaqus 6.51 software was used to build three-dimensional normal pelvis and brace-covered pelvis models. The rigid constraint surface was fixed. The whole pelvic model was loaded with 2 m/s loading. The stress, strain and displacement variation with time and contours were detected prior to and after wearing the hip brace.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the normal model, the contact force between the pelvis and the ground, the maximal compression strain of the cancellous bone when the maximal contact force between the pelvis and the ground generated, the maximal strain of the greater trochanter and femoral neck, the maximal von-Mises stress of the greater trochanter and femoral neck, and the mean stress of the greater trochanter and femoral neck were significantly reduced in the brace-covered pelvis model during sideways falls. These findings indicate that the hip brace can play a protective role in the greater trochanter, and effectively reduce the incidence of intertrochanteric fractures during sideways fall.