Post Mortem Study Of Injuries to the Internal Neck Structures in Cases of Death Due To Hanging.

Virtually all hangings are suicidal in nature and all ligature strangulations are homicidal in nature. So for the purpose of police investigation differentiation between two is very important and necessary. It is generally said that deaths due to hanging are devoid of any injury to the internal neck structures while in strangulation these injuries are always present. So injuries to the internal neck structures are sometimes used as differentiating factor between hanging and strangulation along with other factors. Aim: The aim of this study is to know the prevalence of injuries to the internal neck structures in deaths due to hanging. Method: This study was conducted at mortuary of the civil hospital, Ahmadabad in the year 2013. Total 40 cases of deaths due to hanging were randomly selected. Result: Out of these 40 cases 26(65%) were male and 14(45%) were female. 22 (55%) cases were showing injuries to the internal neck structures in the form of haemorrhage in to the soft tissues and strap muscles or fracture of superior horn of thyroid cartilage or greater cornue of hyoid bone. However these injuries are mainly found present beneath the ligature mark except some indirect injuries e.g. haemorrhage at the origin of sternomastoid muscle and avulsion fracture of greater cornue of hyoid bone due to over stretching of thyro-hyoid membrane. These injuries in cases of hanging are not extensive as found in cases of death due to strangulation. In one case extension distraction fracture of cervical spine at c3-c4 level was found which very rare finding in suicidal hanging is. Conclusion: From the present study it is evident that injuries to the internal neck structures are not very uncommon in the hanging. Though the extent and frequency of injuries are less compare to the ligature strangulation.

Radiological Study of Epiphyseal Fusion Process at Lower End Of Femur In Age Group of 12-20 Years.

Introduction: Age estimation in living as well as dead is a prerequisite for personal identification and it is increasingly important in criminal and civil matters. The growth of the human skeleton is of major importance for the aging process as the appearance of ossification centers and union of epiphysis relate to a fairly definite sequence and time table that makes skeletal maturity a reliable age indicator according to sex and ethnical differences1,2,3,.This present work is carried out to study the epiphyseal fusion of lower end of femur bone in relation to age, sex, physical development, and nutritional status. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Forensic medicine & Toxicology and Department of Radiology at B.J. Medical College & Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad during the year 2010-2012 on 160 subjects, 80 males and 80 femalesfrom the age-group of 12-20 years. Results: The epiphyseal fusion in both male and female at lower end of femur starts by the age of 13-14 years and complete by 17-18 years in male and 16-17 years in females.It is not found any effect of the dietary habit, height, and weight on the timing of epiphyseal fusion of lower end of femur. Conclusion: From our study we may conclude that the epiphyseal fusion in both male and female at lower end of femur starts by the same age and completes earlier in females than males.There is no effect of diet, height, and weight on epiphyseal fusion of lower end of femur.

Post mortem study of congenital anomalies of the sternum bone.

Introduction: The sternum is one of the skeleton parts with frequent variation in appearances on images or autopsy series. Method:Present study was carried out during the year 2010 and 2011 at Department of Forensic Medicine, P. D. U. Government Medical College, Rajkot. The study was carried out to find out congenital anomalies of sternum bone recovered from the cadavers during post mortem examination. Result: Total 114 sternum bones were studied out of which 24 were having congenital anomalies either in the body of sternum or in xiphoid process. No any abnormality is found in manubrium. Sternal foramen is found in 10 cases and it is the most common form of congenital anomaly of sternum. Other anomalies are xiphoid foramen in 7 cases, fissured 4th segment in 5 cases and bifid xiphoid is found in 2 cases. Misinterpretation of autopsy findings has been a major concern to forensic pathologists. This article documents the occurrence of relatively rare congenital anomalies which may be misleading and may result in serious erroneous conclusions, particularly when evaluating skeletonised human remains. Conclusion: Presence of these anomalies and their antemortem records in the form of previous x rays make important data for the identification of skeletonised remains.