Hyoid fractures and strangulation

Thirty four [34] medicolegal autopsies on strangulation deaths were conducted during 7 years period [1993 to 2000] in the department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Chandka Medical College, Larkana. The prevalence of fracture of Hyoid bone in strangled cases was found 14.7%. This percentage was lower than most of the reported studies except one study carried out in USA where the incidence was found in 11.8% cases. The fracture of hyoid bone was noted very high in mannual strangulation [50%] and was more common in the age groups above 40 years