Socio-demographic profile of female victims of vitriolage in interior sindh Pakistan

Vitriolage is a reprehensible crime. It is an easy mean of taking revenge in our society. The most common victims of this criminal act are women. This study highlights the sociodemographic profile of such cases. Retrospective / observational study. This study was conducted in the medico-legal section of Deptt. of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, PUMHS for Women, District Shaheed Benazirabad during the period from 1[st] January 2013 to 31[st] December 2013. Sixteen cases of vitriolage were studied with reference to age, literacy, socioeconomic background, marital status, occupation, relationship with offender, time of incidence, time between occurrence and medical examination, place of incidence. All the cases were females, majority in age group 20-30, unmarried, uneducated, from middle class, had first degree burns and disfigurement of face. The offenders were known to victims in all the cases. The problem needs to be acknowledged by public at large. Individuals social issues should be resolved timely and wisely to guard against such happenings. Emotionally unstable people must be provided counseling by psychologists. The initiative taken by Peshawar High Court in the form of restriction on the sale of acid is a great attempt to minimize the risk and should be appreciated

Fatal road traffic accidents in Karachi

Fatalities due to road traffic accidents are a major cause of mortality all over the world. The aim of our study is to look at socio-demographic profile of such cases in order to find some remedial measures to minimize the brunt. Retrospective / observational study. This study was conducted at the Emergency Department, Sir Syed Hospital, Qayyumabad, Karachi from January to June, 2013. Study was based upon 56 victims of RTA. It includes all those who died during treatment or found dead on arrival in the emergency department. The demographic data of these cases was recorded. Males victims were 71% and maximum number of victims [37.5%] was in age group 30-39 years. Most of the accidents [38%] took place between 1200hrs and 1800hrs. Most of the injuries were found on the head [66%] and then chest 14%, lower extremities 21%, upper extremities 19%. The most common external injuries were abrasions, bruises and lacerations. Skull was the most common bone to be fractured [44%]. The head injury constituted major cause of death [53%] followed by hemorrhagic shock [35%]. Pedestrians and two wheeler riders were mostly affected individuals followed by cyclists, drivers of three wheeler, light and heavy motor vehicles. The incidence of traffic accidents is at rampant. The accidents risks can be minimized by enhancement of road visibility, good traffic control with properly working road traffic signals. Fatalities of Traffic accidents victims can be reduced by providing good pre-hospital care, establishment of well equipped emergency trauma centres in all big hospitals

Head injury and its consequences - a one year study in Karachi

Head injuries are a major cause of mortality or disability among the youth of the nation. This study was conducted to determine the causes of head injuries in Karachi and its implications on individuals. Prospective observational Study. This study was performed at the Emergency department of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre [JPMC], Karachi from January 2013 to December 2013. The study included 1,59,600 cases of head injury [expired or alive] brought to the emergency department of JPMC. Major Head injuries accounted for 42% of the total injury cases. Majority of the head injury cases belonged to the male segment of the society [73%] with ages ranging from 20 years - 39 years [54%]. The leading cause of head injury was found to be Road traffic accidents [RTA] [43%]. While analysing the outcomes of head injuries, it was found that the death rate for head injuries was 40%. This encompasses the patients that expired during or after treatment as well as the dead brought to the hospital. The mortality rate due to head injuries is escalating day by day. Road traffic accidents account for majority of these cases. Steps need to be taken to control fatal head injuries by adopting effective preventive measures like traffic control and management, rapid response to accidents, effective and efficient handling of cases in hospital emergencies

Fatal compressive trauma to neck

A study was conducted to investigate features of death due to strangulation in Lahore and to compare them with other studies on this subject. 220 cases of strangulation were selected out of 2979 total medico legal autopsies conducted at Forensic Medicine department K.E.M.U Lahore during Jan, 2006-Dec, 2008.The selected cases were analyzed for different variables. Neck compression constituted 7.39% of total autopsies and 89.43% of total asphyxial deaths. Hanging accounted for 42.27% followed by ligature strangulation 29.09% and throttling 23.64%. All types of strangulation were prevalent in 2[nd], 3[rd] and 4[th] decade of life. No case was noticed in age below 1 year. No hanging was noticed in 1[st] decade of life. Male had higher incidence over females in hanging in 3[rd] and 4[th] decade. Female had higher incidence in 2[nd] 3[rd] and 4[th] decade in ligature strangulation. Male had higher incidence in 3rd and female in 4[th] decade in throttling. Homicidal deaths accounted for 57.27%, suicidal 30.90%and undeterminable for 11.82%. Ligature strangulation and throttling were the methods used for homicide 57.27% while hanging was used for suicide 30.97%.. Above the thyroid cartilage, the marks were 58.63% with M/F ratio 1.86:1 giving. 53 [41.08%] fractures of the hyoid bone while marks at thyroid cartilage were 36.81% with M/F 1.79:1 giving [3] 3.70% hyoid bone fractures. Below thyroid cartilage 4.5% marks showed no hyoid bone fractures. Throttling showed hyoid bone fracture 69.23%, hanging 14.42% and ligature strangulation 7.81%. Ligature material used was soft in 47.62% cases and hard in 40.48%. It was used in single whirl in 57.41% cases and in multiple whirls in 42.86% cases. Ill defined marks were 40.45% and well defined were 64.09%. In hanging knot was present on occiput in 62.50% cases and on lateral sides in 23.08% cases while 78.13%cases showed the knot on front and 21.87% cases on lateral side in ligature strangulation. Congestion was found in 85.45%, petechial hemorrhage in 81.81% and cyanosis in 75.54% cases. Asphyxial death due to strangulation is common in our country in young age group in males. Hanging is a common method of suicide while ligature strangulation and throttling are used for homicide. The presence of compressive marks above thyroid cartilage are suggestive of death due to hanging and throttling while their presence at and below thyroid cartilage indicate ligature strangulation. This compressive trauma may or may not be associated with fracture of hyoid bone, which is a strong evidence of death due to strangulation

autopsy study of asphyxial deaths

The study includes autopsy examination of 132 cases of asphyxial deaths, brought by the police at Department of Forensic Medicine, K.E.M.U., Lahore during the year 2002, 2003 and 2004. The study revealed that the female to male ratio was 2:3 and individuals in the third decade of life are maximally involved. The ligature was a single loop in 77.7% of the cases and multiple in 22.3% of the cases. The most frequent non-specific asphyxial signs were congestion [72.7% of the cases] and petecheal haemorrhages [78%] cases. The hyoid bone was fractured in 22.7% cases. The associated injuries found were, physical and sexual in nature in 65% of the cases examined

Incidence of homicide by sharp edged weapon at Lahore

To find out the most frequently targeted site of the body in sharp force homicidal injuries, defence wounds, age, associated weapon use, gender incidence and cause of death. Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, King Edward Medical University, Lahore. 2002, 2003 and 2004. Proforma was designed for retrospective study, relevant information was gleaned from the available record .A three year period was selected, spreading over 2002, 2003 and 2004, was scrutinised for 232 cases autopsied at this facility. Male to female ratio was 2.26: 1. Maximum number of victims belonged to the 20-29 years age group. Single injuries were present in 18.54% of the cases and multiple were present in 81.46% cases. The commonest associated weapon used was blunt. Death was caused by haemorrhage in 46.5% cases and damage to vital organs proved to be the cause of death in 53.5% cases. Defence injuries were seen in 26.7% cases. The commonest infliction site was the neck in females while the area most targeted in male victims was the chest. The most targeted site is neck. Approximately one in four victims had defence injuries. Most injuries are on trunk [chest and abdomen]. Commonest regions for males was chest and in females. Damage to vital organs was the major cause of death. Amongst females teenager are more vulnerable, as this group had the maximum number of victims