Citation

Sharma R, Kumar R, Gupta N, Panigrahi MK. Indian J. Forensic Med. Toxicol. 2015; 9(2): 160-162.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, All-India Institute of Medical Sciences. Deptartment of Forensic Medicine)

DOI

10.5958/0973-9130.2015.00095.X

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In case of asphyxial deaths either due to hanging or strangulation, a ligature mark may be the only external evidence available. Therefore a through examination of ligature mark is needed to ascertain hanging as a probable cause of death. A retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, North Delhi Municipal Corporation Medical College, Hindu Rao Hospital, New Delhi from January 2014 to December 2014. During that period we found, death due to hanging constituted 26 (12.09%) of total deaths (215),which were subjected to medicolegal autopsy. Young adults of age group 21 to 30 years accounted for maximum cases, 57.69% while male to female ratio was 1:1.16. Ligature mark was obliquely placed in 88.46% cases and was found to be running above thyroid cartilage in 69.23% cases. On dissection of neck, soft tissue injuries were found in 19.23% cases while fracture of hyoid bone was present in 7.69% cases.

Language: en