ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency of violent asphyxial deaths in Faisalabad over a span of a decade; and assessing the age and gender vulnerability. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, from January 2007 to December 2016
Methodology: Cases identified as violent asphyxial deaths according to police inquests and findings of the medico-legal examiners were computed. Age, gender, and cause of asphyxia recorded in predesigned proformas and analysed by SPSS version 12.0
Results: Asphyxial deaths accounted for 7.66% [259 / 3,381] of the medico-legal deaths during the 10-year span. Majority [28.57%] victims belonged to the 20-29 year age group, followed by the 10-19 year age group [20.07%]. Male victims [56%] outnumbered the females [44%] by ratio of 1.3:1. Ligature strangulation was the cause of asphyxia in majority of the victims [40.93%], followed by hanging [28.96%]
Conclusion: Young population between 20-29 years were the predominant victims of violent asphyxial deaths. Homicide due to ligature strangulation was the commonest form of violent asphyxial deaths
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To find out the hyoid bone fractures in various modalities of compression to the neck i.e. Neck strangulation, Hanging, Garroting and Throttling and to study the socio-demographic characteristics of those victims brought for autopsy
Study Design: Cross Sectional Study [Descriptive]
Setting and Duration: This study was conducted in Autopsy Section of DHQ Hospital Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, Pakistan for a period of five years from January, 2013 to December, 2017
Methodology: Total 87 medico legal autopsies were labeled as the cases of neck compression and police papers depicted history of strangulation at the level of neck. After careful observation of all related findings of ligature strangulation, throttling and hanging; the hyoid bone was examined in each case
Results: Mean age of the victims was 24.16 +/- 15.23. Out of 87 cases, 53[60.9%] were male and 34[39.1%] female. According to the police inquest, 52[59.8%] victims belonged to lower socio- economic status while urban area predominance appreciated in 61[70.1%] cases. Modalities of the neck strangulation included 62[71.26%] cases of hanging, 9[10.34%] cases of garroting and 16[18.40%] cases of throttling. Hyoid bone was found fractured in 18[20.7%] cases and out of those, throttling was the most common cause of hyoid bone fracture in 12[75.0%] victims of neck compression. Occupational data revealed 13[72.2%] victims belonged to lower socio-economic status, 3[16.6%] from average socio-economic background while 2[11.1%] belonged to the better economic group. As regards residential status; 10[55.6%] victims were inhabitants of rural areas while 8[44.4%] belonged to the urban setup
Conclusion: Fracture of the hyoid bone is rare and attention should be paid towards cases of throttling instead of hanging to find out these lesions during autopsy. Examining doctors overemphasize the importance of hyoid bone and ignore the soft tissue injuries of neck due to faulty dissection techniques. Being a task of immense importance, the autopsy techniques should be improved by arranging practical training under supervision of the experts of Forensic Medicine Department at the regional Medical Colleges
ABSTRACT
Background: Excessive use of the firearms causing severe and lethal effect to the victims and their families, delivery of health care and judicial system as well as society where they live. The easy availability of guns has increased the firearm fatalities, especially in developing countries
Objectives: To study the pattern of lethal firearm injuries, in Multan city with special reference to the regions of the body affected, seasonal variation and vulnerable age group
Study design: Retrospective study
Setting and duration: The study was carried out by examining the record of all medicolegal autopsies conducted in the department of Forensic Medicine, Nishtar Medical College Multan during calendar year 2016. Only cases of firearm related deaths were selected for detailed examination and those died of other than firearm injuries were excluded. The reports were studied in relation to Age, types of firearm used, Gender, seasonal variation and regions of the body involved
Results: During 2016, out of total 197 medicolegal autopsies, 77[39.08%] died of firearm injuries and out of those, male victim were 67[44.66%]. The most vulnerable age was 19-40 yrs [45.45%]. Male female ratio was 6.4:1, the chest being the commonest targeted area was38.96%, while during the months of July and August highest incidence of deaths due to firearm observed [15.57%]
Conclusion: The young males are the most common target and the leading cause of death was the injuries on the chest. There is need of strict implementation of law regarding possession of firearm and improvement in socioeconomic conditions of the individuals
ABSTRACT
Background: Infection of the wounds has got definite role in delaying wound healing and development of chronicity. Various studies have been carried to identify and study the pattern of pathogens present in infected wounds and efficacy of antibiotics against these organisms
Objectives: To identify the most common pathogens involved in infections of the wounds after surgical procedures, patterns of their sensitivity and resistance to the different antibiotics
Setting and Duration: The study was carried out in Surgical Unit [3] of Lahore General Hospital, Postgraduate Medical Institute [PGMI] Lahore for the period of Six months from October, 2016 to March, 2017
Methodology: Wound swabs were collected using sterile cotton swabs after obtaining consent from patients. The isolated samples were identified by using standard parameters. Kirby baur disk diffusion method used to determine sensitivity. Tube dilution method was used for minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration
Results: Total 150 bacterial isolates were collected from infected wounds whereas 145[96.67%] were culture positive and 5[3.33%] were bacteriologically sterile. The most common bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus 47[32.4%] followed by Escherichia coli 29[20%], Proteus species 23[16%], Coagulase Negative Staphylococci 21[14.5%], Klebsiella pneumoniae 14[10%] and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 11[8%]. All isolates showed high frequency of resistance to Ampicillin, penicillin, cephalothin and tetracycline
Conclusions: Staphylococcus Aureus has been found as the most common pathogen involved in wound infection. The antibiotics belonging to the group of Cephalothin, Ampicillin, Penicillin and Tetracycline are the least effective against pathogens isolated from infected wounds whereas Piperacillin alongwith Tazobactum; Amikacin and Norfloxacin are the most effective antibiotics against those pathogens
ABSTRACT
Background: Sexual Violence is one of the most common crimes across the globe changing the religious as well as cultural values. The incidence of sexual assault is increasing in the community and gained considerable importance being the important public health problem all over the world
Objectives: To study the socio-demographic profile and medico-legal consequences in the victims of alleged sexual assault brought for medicolegal certification at District Headquarter [Teaching] Hospital Sahiwal, Pakistan
Setting and Duration: Retrospective study was conducted in medicolegal clinic of DHQ Teaching Hospital, Sahiwal during the period from 1[st] January, 2016 to 31 December, 2016
Material and Methods: 125 cases of alleged sexual assault reported in medicolegal clinic of DHQ Hospital Sahiwal, during the calendar year 2016. The socio-demographic characteristics were studied in detail i.e. age, marital status, residential background. Associated physical injuries as well as perineal injuries observed on the body of victims were also considered. Results of the biological specimens / evidentiary material sent to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency [PFSA] were recorded on a Performa
Results: The incidence of sexual assault was higher 79[63.20 percent] in rural inhabitants as compared to 46[36.80 percent] in urban citizens. The most vulnerable age group was 11-20 years involving 57[45.60 percent] cases followed by those belonging to 3[rd] decade of life involving 37[29.60 percent] victims. Of the total 125 cases of alleged sexual assault, 74[59.20 percent] were married and 51[40.80 percent] unmarried. As regard injuries to the perineal areas; hymen was observed to have fresh injuries to the vulva and vagina in 7[5.60 percent] cases whereas old / healed tears of perineal area were found in remaining 118[94.40 percent] victims and there was no Virgo intact among all the cases of alleged sexual assault
Conclusion: The victims with age group of 11-20 years were the most commonly affected by sexual violence in Sahiwal and majority of them belonged to the rural areas. Rape and sexual assault are under-reported crimes in order to avoid the social stigma. A combined effort by law enforcing agencies, civil society and electronic / print media should be initiated to eliminate the ferocity of sexual crimes from community