A Preliminary Investigation of Costal Cartilage and the Costochondral Junction in Three-Point Bending

Authors: Christopher Lopez, Andrew Kemper, Devon Albert, Virginia Tech University; Amanda Agnew, The Ohio State University

Abstract

Thoracic skeletal trauma is a common result from motor vehicle collisions. This includes fractures to the ribs, costal cartilage, and costochondral junction (CCJ). Obtaining accurate material and mechanical properties for these structures is important for the development and validation of human body models. Consequently, the objective of this preliminary study was to quantify and compare the mechanical properties of costal cartilage and the CCJ during three-point bending. Samples of isolated cartilage (CC only) and costal cartilage with the rib still attached at the CCJ (Rib+CC) were loaded to failure during three-point bending tests. The stiffness, ultimate properties, and failure properties were analyzed with respect to sample type, age, and sex. Ultimate displacement and failure displacement were the only properties that were significantly different with respect to sample type, with CC only samples displacing more than the Rib+CC samples, but a larger sample size is needed to further the analysis and confirm the results. 

Type: Short Communication

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