The peculiar properties of the falx and tentorium in brain injury biomechanics

The influence of the falx and tentorium on brain injury biomechanics during impact was studied with finite element (FE) analysis. Three detailed 3D FE head models were created based on the images of a healthy, normal size head. Two of the models contained the addition of falx and tentorium with material properties from previously published experiments. Impact loadings from a reconstructed concussive case in a sport accident were applied to the two players involved. The results suggested that the falx and tentorium could induce large strains to the surrounding brain tissues, especially to the corpus callosum and brainstem. The tentorium seemed to constrain the motion of the cerebellum while inducing large strain in the brainstem in both players involved in the accident (one player had mainly coronal head rotation and the other had both coronal and transversal rotations). Since changed strain levels were observed in the brainstem and corpus callosum, which are classical sites for diffuse axonal injuries (DAI), we confirmed the importance of using accurate material properties for falx and tentorium in a FE head model when studying traumatic brain injuries.