Importance of correct interpretation of postmortem artifacts in medicolegal autopsies

PURPOSE: To study whether various injuries labelled as antemortem are in fact postmortem artifacts. STUDY SUBJECTS: 780 postmortems conducted in mortuary of S.M.C. Karachi from 1-1-95 to 20-9-95. MAIN FINDINGS: Out of 780 autopsies, 229 showed postmortem artifacts which included decomposition in 78, animal and insects producing changes in 45, injuries due to rough handling in 40, breaking of rigor mortis and shifting of postmortem lividity during transportation in 37, iatrogenic fracture of skull during opening in 15, fractured ribs during resuscitation after death in 8 and exhumation producing fractures of bones in 6 bodies