German Air Force Institute of Aviation...
Transcript of German Air Force Institute of Aviation...
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
German Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine Commander: Col Dr. F Grell
Clinical Aviation Medicine DivisionHead: Col Dr. H D Marwinski
AsMA 84st Annual Scientific Meeting, May 12-16 2013, ChicagoPanel # 64: “Emergencies, First Aid and Prevention in Military and
Civil Aviation Medicine”,
Title: “Frequency and Pattern of Spinal Injury in Case of
Escape with an Ejection Seat”
Author: Lt Col Dr. T M Pippig
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
Disclosure Information 84th Annual AsMA Scientific Meeting
Lt Col Dr. med. Torsten Pippig:
I have no financial relationships to disclose.
I will not discuss off-label use and/or investigational use in my presentation
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
Agenda:
1.Introduction and History.
2.Ejection Seat.
3.Results (Spinal Injuries).
4.Case Report.
5.Discussion.
6.Summery.
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
3
1. Indroduction and History
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine 1. Indroduction and History
„The greatest disaster that could occur during an air mission is not the
destruction of an aircraft, the real catastrophe is the loss of a pilot. For this
reason, along with the development of aeronautical technology, progress has
been made in the field of escape systems. Since their incorporation into fighter
jets, ejection seats have saved over 6.000 lives, more than 80 % of pilots having
survived ejections.“
(FOWLIE, RAF, 1985)
Martin-Baker Home: 7413, 20.04.2013 („Ejection Tie Club“ (founded in 1957, 5800 member))
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine 1. Introduction and History
On 13 Jan 1943: 1st documented successful use of ejection seat by German
Engineer Rudolf Schenk (He-280 prototype) in Laerz/Rechlin;
On 24 July 1946: 1st live flight test of the Martin-Baker System:
Gloster Meteor Mk III (Bernhard Lynch);
Martin Baker MK-16A zero-zero ejection seat (EF-2000, JSF, Rafale, T-38):
89kg, semi-reclined 18°, 5.500 m (18.000 ft.), Mach 2+, -3 Gz to + 9 Gz;
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine 1. Introduction and History
Two-seat aircraft: Suchoi (RUS)
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine 1. Introduction and History
Ka-50 Hokum (1982) and Ka-51 Alligator (RUS)
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine 1. Introduction and History
Ejection Seat Concepts | ETC Aircrew Training Systems
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine 2. Ejection Seat
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine 3. Results
Tab. 1: Frequency of Injuries in Case of a Rescue Escape via Ejection Seat, German Air Force, from 1974 until 2012 (except F-104 G Starfighter)
NSurvival
RateFatal Injury
No Spinal Injury
Spinal Injury
Spinal Fracture
Spinal Soft Tissue Inj.
All103 93 10 45 48 31 17
Tornado54 50 4 20 30 19 11
F-4F25 21 4 13 8 7 1
RF-4E21 19 2 11 8 4 4
MiG-29
F-16, Hawk
12
12
00
01
11
01
10
in %90.3 9.7 48.4 51.6 33.3 18.3
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
Table 4:Source: Vasquez et al.,
3. Results
NationPeriod (N)
No Injured
Letal Injured
Severe Injured
Mild injured
Canada ? (77) 22.2 6.5 10.5 60.9
Sweden
1967-1987 (92)
43.5 9.8 4.3 42.4
Finland? (17)
17.6 5.9 29.4 47.1
Australia
1951-1992 (84)
8.3 8.3 38.1 45.2
Jordan
? (?)
45.5 9.1 9.1 36.4
Bulgaria
1953-1993 (?)
30.0 16.7 23.3 30.0
Spain1979-1995 (48)
10.4 14.6 52.1 22.4
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
Source: Wehrmedizinische Mschr. Heft 8/1993
3. Results
Nation(Author)
Period Number Survived(N) and %
Letal Injured(N) and %
GAF
(BECKMANN)
1965 - 1980 217 (176)81.1
(41)18.9
RCAF
(SMILEY)
1952 - 1966 292 (230)
78.8
(62)
21.2
USAF
(PLETCHER)
1949 - 1971 3700 (3050)82.4
(650)17,6
France
(?)
1955 - 1971 331 (256)
77.3
(75)
22.6
All 4538 (3710)
79.9
(828)
20.1
12.04.2007 24.03.2009
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
Tab. 2: Ejection Seat: Number of Fractures and Location
3. Results
NCervical
FracturesThoracic Fractures
Lumbar Fractures
All Fractures 49 6 34 9
PA 200 Tornado 30 5 21 4
F-4F Phantom II 11 1 8 2
RF-4E 5 0 2 3
Hawk 3 0 3 0
X-ray: Dens Fracture (1993) Thoracic F. (1995) MRI: sag,T1 stir (2005)
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine 4. Case Report: 24.03.2009
Pilot (H F., 1978, 31 y., 980 fh) WSO (H E., 1970, 39 y., 3250 fh)
Anthropometry 194,8, 89,0 kg, BMI 24,0 183,3 cm, 95,9 kg, BMI 28,5
Head none none
Cervical sp. Arch fracture 2. and 4. none
Thoracic sp. 6. , 7. and 8. 12.
Lumbar sp./Pelvis none 1. and 2.
Upper limbs Closed olecranon fracture left Traumatic bursa injury elbow left
Lower limbs Closed patella fracture leftOpen distal femural fracture right
Pilon tibiale fracturr rightWeber A fracture left
Psyche Reactive depression none
Consequences Unfit for all military flying duties01.08.2010: DoD 50 v.H. (226 € p. m.)
Waiver until 31.03.13 (BO-43)GdS 30 DoD (requested)
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
Pilot (H F., 1978, 31 y., 980 fh): MRI, thoracic spine, sag, T2 stir (2009)
4. Case Report: 24.03.2009
* Source: Central Military Hospital Koblenz
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
(H E., 1970, 3250 fh): MRI Harmony, 1,0 T; Thoracic-lumbar spine, sag. T2, T1, T2 stir (2013)
4. Case Report: 24.03.2009
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine 5. Discussion: Why?
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine 5. Discussion: Why?
Age in Years Breakin Load, Lumbar Vertebra (kN)
20 - 39 7,14
40 - 59 4,67
60 - 79 3,01
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine 5. Discussion: Why?
Phase of Ejection Sequence
Possible Injuries Occuring During Each Phase of the Ejection Sequence
Escape pathway clearance
MDAC splatter burns.
Canopy jettison rocker motor flash burns.
Cervical spine, head, shoulder, limb injuriesresulting from through canopy ejection.
Ejection gun firing and rocket motor burn
Spinal compression fractures.Femoral fracture from contact with set pan.
Windblast Windblast flail injuries.
Drogue parachute deployment
Spinal injury from drogue parachute opening shock loads.
Main parachute canopy
deployments
Spinal injury from main parachute shock loads.
Head and cervical spine injury helmet; and parachute riser interaction.
Parachute landing Lower limb fractures.
Spinal injuries.
Table 8: Source: Lewis 2006
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
Tab. 2: Frequency of Injuries in Case of a Rescue Escape via Ejection Seat
5. Discussion: Why?
N Age Fl.hoursSpeed
(kn)Altitude
(ft)BMI
SH
(cm)
All 103 32.8 1396 266 4142 24.1 93.5
Survived 93 32.6 1324 261 4122 24.1 93.3
Fatal 10 35.1 1992 310 4313 24.5 94.6
No injury 45 33.6 1447 248 4959 24.1 94.3
Sp. injury 48 31.6 1218 274 3341 23.9 92.4
Sp. fract. 31 31.7 1218 249 3755 24.1 91.5
Soft t. inj. 17 32.1 1218 315 2697 23.6 93.8
Tornado 54 33.1 1379 250 4553 24.3 93.1
F-4F 25 33.3 1290 256 5180 24.2 94.1
RF-4E 21 33.1 1584 330 1986 23.5 93.9
MiG-29, F-16, Hawk 3 29.0 910 50 2100 22.1 95.5
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
Pilot (H F., 1978, 980 fh): Closed olecranon fracture L*; ORIF (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
4. Case Report: 24.03.2009
* Source: Central Military Hospital Koblenz
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
Pilot (H F., 1978, 980 fh): Open distal femural fracture R*: ORIF + srew ostesynthesis. Closed patella fracture L*: srew osteosynthesis.
4. Case Report: 24.03.2009
* Source: Central Military Hospital Koblenz
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
(H E., 1970, 3250 fh): Closed pilon fracture of the ankle R*,x-ray and CT
4. Case Report: 24.03.2009
* Source: Central Military Hospital Koblenz
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine 6. Summery:
In aircraft, an ejection seat is a system designed to
rescue the pilot or other crew of an aircraft (usually
military) in an emergency.
The purpose of an ejection seat is pilot survival.
The pilot typically experiences an acceleration of
about 12 to 14 +Gz (117–137 m/s2).
The ejection seat can save lives, but not in all
(survival rate 90 %).
We have a high risk of spinal fractures, when using
the ejection seat (> 30 %).
Do we need a training system?
GAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
Contact:
German Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine
Clinical Aviation Medicine Division
Orthopedics/Anthropometry/Sports Science Branch
Dr. med. Torsten M Pippig, LtCol M.C., MD
Strasse der Luftwaffe 308
D - 82242 Fuerstenfeldbruck
Tel: +49 (0)8141 – 5360 – 2055
Fax: +49 (0)8141 – 5360 – 2989
Mail: [email protected]