Road traffic accidents; autopsy based study in Mulan

The specter of road traffic injuries takes a greater toll on human life every day on our roads. To analyze the demographic and injury profile of autopsy cases with an alleged history of RTA [Road traffic accidents]. Retrospective study. Forensic Medicine Department of Nishtar Medical College, Multan. January 2010 to December 2013. 116 autopsy cases with an alleged history of RTA. Data collected pertaining to history, epidemiology, details of injuries and cause of death etc. was statistically analyzed on SPSS version17. Out of 116 autopsies on RTA victims, 46.55% victims were between 21-40 years with male: female ratio of 1.9:1. Maximum number of accidents occurred during day time between 6 am and 5:59 pm [62.06%]. 79.31% died at the site of accidents. Pedestrians were the commonest victims [81.89%]. Four wheelers caused most of RTA 51[43.96%]. The cause of death was opined to be head injury in 45.68% of cases. Addressing road safety in a comprehensive manner necessitates the involvement of multiple sectors, such as health, transport and police

Ligature mark on the neck; how elucidative?

There are three types of compression of neck which are of prime forensic importance - [1] Manual strangulation [2] Hanging [3] Ligature strangulation. Ligature mark is found in the latter two types.[1] Ligature mark is a pressure mark on the neck underneath the ligature. Initially it appears as a pale groove which on drying becomes yellowish brown parchment like.[2,5] The aim is to study the information provided by a ligature mark in ligature asphyxial deaths. A retrospective study on ligature asphyxial deaths. Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Departments of King Edward Medical University, Lahore and Nishtar Medical College, Multan. January, 2012 to December, 2013. The incidence of violent ligature asphyxial deaths was 4.21% of the total medicolegal deaths autopsied. Age group 21 to 30 years accounted for the maximum cases [37.6%]. Male: female ratio was 1.02. Nylon rope [44.7%] was the most common ligature material used. Ligature mark was single in all cases and was situated above thyroid cartilage in 82.92% cases of hanging. In ligature strangulation deaths, mark was one in number in 93.18% cases and was below thyroid cartilage in 97.72% cases. The manner of death in hanging was mostly suicidal [90.24%] as compared to homicidal in all cases of ligature strangulation. Ligature mark was incompletely encircling the neck in 85.36% cases and obliquely present in 100% cases of hanging. In all deaths due to ligature strangulation, it was completely encircling and transversely present around the neck. Underlying soft tissues of neck were glistening white in all hanging deaths while it showed extravasations of blood in all ligature strangulation cases. A meticulous examination of the ligature mark during autopsy, though not conclusive, can give valuable information that can be very helpful in diagnosing deaths due to hanging and ligature strangulation

Natural sexual offences; medicolegal assessment in Punjab

Globally, rape of women is a serious health, social and religious concern and is considered as a violation of women basic human right. The aim was to ascertain incidence of natural sexual offence [rape] in Punjab and to analyze the data with respect to sociodemographic characteristics, findings of medicolegal examination and results of evidence collected from victims of sexual assault. This retrospective study was conducted on 148 female victims of rape brought to Forensic Medicine Department of King Edward Medical University Lahore, Fatima Jinnah Medical College Lahore and Nishtar Medical College, Multan from January 2012 to December 2013 for medicolegal examination. Details pertaining to socio-demographic profile of the victim, incident, findings of medical examination and results of evidence collected were noted. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. The most affected age group was 11-20 years [60.8%]. Majority of victims were unmarried [70.9%], non- working [79.72%] and of lower socioeconomic class [71.6%] All were Muslims [100%]. The highest number of victims was examined on the second day [24.3%]. 31% cases were of gang rape. Majority knew the assailant [45.9%]. The commonest place of offence was an isolated place [66.2%] Extragenital injuries were seen in 10.8% cases. Hymen was intact in 3.3% victims. The tears of hymen were old in 77.6% and fresh in 22.3% cases. Semen was detected in 18.2% cases. 1.3% victims were pregnant and 4% were intoxicated. The study highlights the importance of addressing rape as an important health issue