Radiological age estimation from sternum.

Introduction: Verification or determination of the age is prerequisite for personal identification in living as well as dead and age estimation is one of the important tasks for a medico-legal practice. Skeletal examination is important for identification of an individual either living or dead especially for the estimation of age. Material and Method: In the present study, authors have tried to work out the criteria for determination of age of the deceased with the help of sternum. Authors have studied 109 sterna procured from the cadavers with known age brought for post-mortem examination at the civil hospital, ahmedabad. Fusion of manubrium and xiphoid process with the body of sternum was studied radiologically. The data thus collected, were analysed statistically and conclusion was drawn. Result: According to the present study, for males, the age of fusion between xiphisterum and body of the sternum is at 42 years, for females, the age of fusion between xiphisterum and body of the sternum is at 44 years. In males, the fusion at manubrio-sternal starts at the age of 50 years and it completes after the age of 59 years but the exact age for complete fusion at manubrio-sternal joint could not be defined. Amongst females, the cases showing first degree fusion are seen increasing from the age of 54 years and complete fusion after the age of 64 years. But here also the exact pattern could not be defined. Conclusion: Estimation of age by radiology will be of very much helpful to the medicolegal experts in determining the age of unknown deceased as well as skeletonised remains.

Profile of pedestrian deaths in road traffic accidents.

Introduction: Pedestrians deaths in automobile road accidents in frequently encountered. Pedestrian deaths constitute a high percentage of all road fatalities. Material & Method:Out of total 367 accident death postmortem examinations,87(23.70%) were pedestrians. The present study aimed at analyzing pattern of 87 pedestrian deaths; out of these 73 were male victims. Results: Majority of pedestrian accidents occurs at 10AM-2PM (27 cases) followed by 6 PM-10PM(25 cases). The pedestrians were hit by heavy vehicles in 31 cases, two wheelers in 20 cases, car &jeep in 16 cases Head injury is responsible in 67 pedestrian death cases followed by chest injury in 40 cases, abdominal injury in 28 cases.

Study of hanging cases in Ahmedabad Region.

In spite of advancement in medical facilities, the natural end of life is inevitable. But for some persons, the death is destined earlier in an un-natural way. A few choose to make their own way by committing suicide. The major reasons are personnel problems, stress of life, family problems and financial problems. There are many methods for committing suicide like poisoning, hanging, self-immolation, drowning etc. Hanging provides painless death so it is one of the commonly adopted methods for suicide. However, in a few instances false allegations are made claiming that the ligature mark over neck is of strangulation rather than hanging. Vice versa cases are also likely. In such cases, the post-mortem findings are very helpful to differentiate between the two. Present prospective study was carried out at the mortuary of Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad over 2 years period ranging from December 2008 to November 2010 with a view to study to incidence, ligature materials, and post-mortem findings in hanging cases. The place of hanging, manner of death and reason for death were also studied in the study.

Successful management of spontaneous pneumothorax during general anaesthesia in a patient with eosinophilia.

A 10-year-old male patient posted for left elbow arthrolysis developed pneumothorax during general anaesthesia. He had history of upper respiratory tract infection and high eosinophil count, which remained high in spite of treatment. In such patients, it is advisable to use steroid pre-operatively & intraoperatively to produce transient eosinopenia so that complications of eosinophilia are avoided.