Retrospective Analysis of 73 Hanging and Ligature Strangulation Cases / 法医学杂志

Objective To retrospectively analyze 40 cases of hanging and 33 cases of ligature strangulation in Kunming, to explore the neck injury characteristics and similarities and differences of related asphyxia signs of corpses in hanging and ligature strangulation cases, in order to provide reference for forensic identification. Methods Statistics of hanging and ligature strangulation cases accepted by Kunming Municipal Public Security Bureau from 2000 to 2017 were collected. Data including the gender, age, injury tool, neck injury and related asphyxia signs of the deceased in hanging and ligature strangulation cases were statistically tested by SPSS 23.0. Results There were more males in hanging cases than females. However, there were more females than males in ligature strangulation cases. In hanging cases, suicide was common, while homicide was rare. In ligature strangulation cases, homicide was common, while suicide or accidental death was rare. The average age of the deceased in hanging cases were older than those in ligature strangulation cases. The ligature mark in hanging was usually above the thyroid cartilage. The ligature mark in ligature strangulation was usually at the same level of the thyroid cartilage. The most common vital reactions were exfoliation and subcutaneous hemorrhage at the ligature mark, common among the deceased in hanging cases. Hyoid fracture rate of the deceased in ligature strangulation cases was more common than those in hanging cases. Conclusion The gender, age distribution, position of ligature mark, detection rate of vital reactions at the ligature mark and hyoid fracture rate of the deceased can help distinguish hanging from ligature strangulation.

A Complex Suicide by Ligature Strangulation and Hanging Using Two Different Ligatures / 대한법의학회지

Hanging is the most common method of suicide in Malaysia. However, hanging in combination with suicidal ligature strangulation is uncommon. The victim is a 31-year-old man, with no previous medical or psychiatric disorders. He accomplished self-strangulation using a shoelace and hanging himself with a High-Definition Multimedia Interface cable. Three loops of a shoelace ligature were present around the neck. A single knot was present on the front, and a double knot at the back of the neck. Internal examination of the neck revealed small bilateral hemorrhages of the sternocleidomastoid muscles. No laryngeal cartilage or hyoid bone fractures were observed. No other evidence of injury was noted other than moderate pulmonary edema. The post-mortem toxicology results were negative. The cause of death was ascertained as neck compression due to ligatures. Scene assessment and post-mortem findings concur with suicide. This report describes an unusual case of suicidal ligature strangulation, in combination with hanging using two different ligatures.

Estrangulación suicida atípica / Atypical self-induced strangulation

Resumen El hallazgo de un cadáver con signos de suspensión y en circunstancias dudosas plantea la posibilidad de que la muerte esté relacionada a la intervención de terceros. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 36 años que fue encontrado muerto, con una compresión cervical mecánica extrínseca, en una vía pública, sin testigos del hecho. Inicialmente, se investigó el caso como un homicidio, con diagnóstico diferencial de suicidio. El estudio exhaustivo del sitio de la muerte, más el examen post-mórtem completo, incluyendo: autopsia, histopatología y toxicología, permitió descartar la posibilidad de la acción de terceros y confirmar la hipótesis diagnóstica de una estrangulación autoinducida, de ubicación atípica, ejecutada con lazo.

Abstract Finding a suspended body in doubtful circumstances raises the possibility that the manner of death is homicide. We present the case of a 36 years-old male who was found dead, with extrinsic mechanical cervical compression, on a public place, there were no witnesses of the fact. Initially, the case was investigated as a homicide, with differential diagnosis of suicide. The comprehensive analysis of the scene and a complete post-mortem examination: including autopsy, histopathology and toxicology results, allowed us to rule out the possibility of the action of third parties and confirm the hypothesis of a self-induced atypical strangulation.

Pattern of ligature mark in cases of compressed neck in Rajkot region: a prospective study.

Ligature mark may be the only evidence available in cases of asphyxial deaths due to either hanging or strangulation. A through examination of the ligature mark and analysis of the information provided by it is therefore, a must to arrive at the most probable cause of death and differentiate between hanging and the ligature strangulation. A prospective study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine, P.D.U. Medical College & Hospital, Rajkot from January 2008 to December 2008. During that period out of 2159 cases, 90 cases of hanging and 7 cases of ligature strangulation were selected for the present study. We found that deaths due to hanging constituted 4.17% of the total unnatural deaths subjected to medicolegal autopsy; young adults of the age group 21 to 30 years accounted for the maximum cases 40% and the male: female ratio was 2:1. Chunni (34.44%) was the most common ligature material used. The mark was obliquely placed (100% cases) above thyroid cartilage (80% cases). In all the cases of ligature strangulation the mark was transverse and below the level of thyroid cartilage.

Suicidal Strangulation by Ligature : Three Case Reports / 대한법의학회지

Suicidal strangulation by ligature (so-called self-strangulation) is distinctly uncommon. It is distinct from self-suspension in cases of hanging, the latter being a far more common form of suicide. Suicidal strangulation by ligature must be separated from homicidal strangulation by ligature. But clear distinction between the homicidal and suicidal strangulation by ligature is often impossible on the basis of the anatomical findings alone, although fractures of the larynx in suicidal strangulations are distinctly unusual. An accurate evaluation of circumstances, a thorough post-mortem examination, and inspection of the scene are extremely important in such cases. It is equally important to examine the type of noose and knot as well as the number of turns around the neck. We reports three cases of suicidal strangulation by ligature with brief review of literature.