Embedded axonal fiber tracts improve finite element model predictions of traumatic brain injury

• Authors: Marzieh Hajiaghamemar, Georgia Institute of Technology; Taotao Wu, University of Virginia; Matthew B. Panzer, University of Virginia; Susan Margulies, Emory University
• Journal Title: Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology
• Volume: Volume 19, Number 3
• Publisher: Springer Heidelberg | 2020-06-01, Pages 1109-1130
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-019-01273-8
• Subjects: Engineering, Biomedical; Biology, Neuroscience; Engineering, Mechanical
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Technology; Biophysics; Engineering, Biomedical; Engineering; Multi-scale finite element modeling; Axonal injury prediction; Diffusion tensor imaging; Tractography; Axonal tract network; Head rotations; In-vitro; Strain; Stretch; Damage; Tissue; Verification; Computation; Sensitivity; Validation

Abstract

With the growing rate of traumatic brain injury (TBI), there is an increasing interest in validated tools to predict and prevent brain injuries. Finite element models (FEM) are valuable tools to estimate tissue responses, predict probability of TBI, and guide the development of safety equipment. In this study, we developed and validated an anisotropic pig brain multi-scale FEM by explicitly embedding the axonal tract structures and utilized the model to simulate experimental TBI in piglets undergoing dynamic head rotations. Binary logistic regression, survival analysis with Weibull distribution, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, coupled with repeated k-fold cross-validation technique, were used to examine 12 FEM-derived metrics related to axonal/brain tissue strain and strain rate for predicting the presence or absence of traumatic axonal injury (TAI). All 12 metrics performed well in predicting of TAI with prediction accuracy rate of 73–90%. The axonal-based metrics outperformed their rival brain tissue-based metrics in predicting TAI. The best predictors of TAI were maximum axonal strain times strain rate (MASxSR) and its corresponding optimal fraction-based metric (AF-MASxSR7.5) that represents the fraction of axonal fibers exceeding MASxSR of 7.5 s−1. The thresholds compare favorably with tissue tolerances found in in–vitro/in–vivo measurements in the literature. In addition, the damaged volume fractions (DVF) predicted using the axonal-based metrics, especially MASxSR (DVF = 0.05–4.5%), were closer to the actual DVF obtained from histopathology (AIV = 0.02–1.65%) in comparison with the DVF predicted using the brain-related metrics (DVF = 0.11–41.2%). The methods and the results from this study can be used to improve model prediction of TBI in humans.