Traumatic brain injury models were designed to study the characteristics of human brain injury. The properties of experimental injury models were reviewed from the biomechanical point of view in this article. Weight-drop models with or without skull protection were compared in terms of experimental setup, possible error source, and biomechanical prospect. The modified percussion models with or without rigid cortical impact were contrasted with regard to reliability, histo-pathological production, and deformation. The focal contusion model by mechanical suction force was considered as isolated cortical injury without compression brain injury. Each experimental injury model had advantages and limitations, therefore, no single model produces full injury features seen in human head injury.

Keywords: Head injury, experimental animal model, diffuse axonal injury, biomechanics, cerebral ischemia