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.

Epiphyseal fusion at lower end of radius and ulna valuable tool for age determination.

Age estimation is an important task and valuable tool to assist in many civil and criminal procedures, especially in developing countries like India where illiterate population is not aware of the importance of registration of births or the record of registration may not be properly maintained. Physical methods for age estimation are not accurate and eruption of teeth (except third molar) is complete by the age of 16 years. Epiphyseal fusion of long bones is relatively constant in timings and important for age estimation in such cases up to the age of 22 years. This present prospective study is carried out at Forensic Medicine Department of B. J. Medical College, Ahmedabad during the year 2009-10 on 104 subjects of either sex with known age from 15-21 years. It was noticed that the epiphyseal fusion at lower end of radius and ulna processes and progresses bilaterally symmetrical, begins at the age of 16-18 years and completes by the end of 20 year. It was further noticed union at lower end of ulna occurs in advance of radius and females show union in advance of male subjects.