Post Mortem Study Of Injuries to the Internal Neck Structures in Cases of Death Due To Hanging.

ABSTRACT

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.