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Stumbled across this while doing a literature search on safety footwear:

Wolff KS, Prusa AM, Wibmer A, Rankl P, Firbas W, Teufelsbauer H. Effect of Body Armor on Simulated Landmine Blasts to Cadaveric Legs. Journal of Trauma. 2005 Jul;59(1):202-208.

BACKGROUND:: Antipersonnel landmine protective footwear relies on blast deflection or on exaggerated standoff between the foot and the explosive. Neither design has been tested for clinical effectiveness. METHODS:: 4 cadaveric lower extremities - 3 fitted with a Koflach(R) boot incorporating TABRE(R) (Technology for Attenuating Blast Related Energy) were subjected to controlled blast with charges of up to 100 g trinitrotoluene (TNT). The blasts were recorded by a digital recording system. All legs were X-rayed and underwent computed tomography scanning before and after testing. RESULTS:: TABRE-protected limbs directly subjected to the blast hyperextended at the knee during firing. Injuries showed a pattern of open tibial fractures (Gustilo grade I, II), of multiple calcaneal (Sanders Type III, IV), and fibular fractures and of the tibial plateau, but showed no traumatic amputation. CONCLUSIONS:: Development of protective footwear against landmine blast is feasible . From medium mines up to charges of 100 g TNT limb salvage may be possible.



Cheers,

Hylton

The experimental methodology is very reminisent of the type of thing the lads at "Mythbusters" get up to! For anyone not familiar - "Mythbusters" is well worth the look (if you can't get it on the TV, DVDs are available). Really good fun science, using some strong scientific method. I use it to teach secondary science.

Meanwhile, a gruesome topic, but given the amount of damage inflicted by landmines, obviously an important one.

Does anyone else get upset when they read about cosmetic-vanity-stupidity foot surgery (the latest being silicone heel implants to enable 'more comfortable' wearing of high heels)? If we put as much effort into weird but wonderful things such as landmine protection, or post-traumatic reconstructive surgery, as we do into vanity, perhaps the world would be a tad better off.

OK, I'll get off my soapbox.

Felicity

Hi Hyltonm

I did some research a while back for a broadcast on soldier's footwear in the Afghanistan War. The general opinion then was no real protective foot gear had been developed. However one interesting aspect of the campaign was most of the conflict was covert and the troops were fighting on sand. Since army treds would be picked up instantly many fought in thongs ( thought to provide as much protection as a protective boot from landmines) and some boots it was reported had modified treds to resemble thong prints. I have just come back from Prague and a visit to the Sex Machine Museum where there is on display an original set of thongs worn by prostitutes in ancient Greece. The cute thing about these shoes was the imprint they left on the sand was "Follow me"

Who says it does not pay to advertise?

Cameron

__________________

Cameron Kippen, Podologist and Shoe Historian




Cameron Kippen

Now that's not something you hear every day!

Love the inscription in the thongs though...

Maybe it's just me, but as a girl (not wearing my pod hat atm) I can't see how a heel implant would help wearing high heels...I would have thought a forefoot implant would be better....that's where all my "high heels" pain is.


My personal fave of completey pointless cosmetic foot surgery is the second toe shortening so they look "better"...my God if that's all you have to worry about in life then you lead a charmed one indeed.