Cause of death in exhumed bodies: an experience in upper Sindh, Pakistan

Exhumation is conducted around the globe when foul play is suspected. In developed world and in some developing countries this procedure is also carried out for identification purposes as well as in insurance claims, and some other civil suits. To determine the cause of death in exhumed bodies. Prospective, descriptive. The Study was conducted in the department of Forensic Medicine, Chandka Medical College, Larkana [CMCL] from Jan:2001 to Dec:2010. A total of 125 bodies were exhumed in various districts of upper Sindh by exhumation board, constituted by Director General Health Services Hyderabad. At the site of graveyard, bodies were digged out. After identification of deceased by near relatives, the bodies were thoroughly examined, viscerae taken for histopathological and chemical analysis, and cause of death determined by consensus in almost all cases. The most common cause of death was firearm injuries 37 [29.6%], followed by blunt trauma 15 [12%], sharp weapon injuries 09 [7.2%], drowning 09 [7.2%], poisoning 07 [5.6%] strangulation 06 [4.8%], infanticide 06 [4.8%]. In about 1/3 of cases cause of death could not be decided due to advanced stage of decomposition. Majority of victims were young males and firearm injury was the commonest cause of death

Unnatural female deaths Peshawar

The aim of the study was to know the extent of violent deaths among females in Peshawar, the most vulnerable age group, weapons of infliction and the mode of death. Design: Non interventional [descriptive] type study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted from 1st January, 2001 to 31st December, 2001 in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar. Subjects and Out of 679 deaths, presented for autopsy at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar 89 were females. These were grouped according to age, mode of death and weapons of infliction. Females formed 13% of all the autopsies done in Peshawar. The age group most commonly involved was 21-40 years [50.56%]. Firearms were the predominant weapons of infliction [70.78%] and the intent was mostly homicidal [77.52%]. Fatal violence against women is uncommon in Peshawar. Suicide is rare. Young women are mostly killed by firearms

Age of fusion for epiphysis elbow and wrist in normal children

The age of fusion of the epiphysis at elbow and wrist has been studied radio logically at department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Chandka Medical College, Larkana, during 1999-2000. One hundred eighty normal children [75 females and 105 males] of average middle class aged 12 to 19 years were examined. The females were 1 to 2 years advanced as compared to the males in their fusion time. All the epiphysis at elbow [excluding medical epicondyle] showed complete fusion at the age of 15 years in females and 17 years in males, while fusion time at wrist was found 17 years in females and 19 years in males. It was found that the time of fusion in present study was 1-3 years earlier than English but was nearly correlating to Australian or even 1-2 years late to Indian and Bengali children