ABSTRACT
We derive our understanding of mechanism of injury in two ways. We can analyze the outcomes of well-described incidents of trauma and note what sorts of injuries occur in those settings. We can extrapolate from variables noted in those clinical reports and identify patterns of injuries, which may occur under varying circumstances. Alternatively, we can develop experimental models for different types of trauma and identify the forces, which come into play and the types of injuries which occur under different experimental settings. Such experimentation generates the theoretical basis for understanding the patterns of injuries noted in clinical reports.
