Citation

Gorgiard C, Taccoen M, Ludes B. Rev. Med. Leg. 2016; 7(1): 33-37.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.medleg.2015.12.001

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Hanging is a common method for committing suicide and a routine task in forensic autopsies. Hanging can be classified as either complete (the whole body hangs off the ground and the weight of the victim is suspended at the neck) or incomplete (some parts of the body are touching the ground). Divergent opinions exist about the frequency of cases with fractures of the thyroid cartilage and of the hyoid bone in deaths caused by hanging. The objective of this case is to synthesize the different factors involved in the occurrence of fractures of neck structures that are caused by hanging. We examined the case of a 48-year-old-man who was the victim of an incomplete hanging. The man was found sitting on the ground in support against a door. The cervical link was attached to the top of the hinge door. The external examination showed a hanging ligature mark and classical external injuries of asphyxia death. During the autopsy, we found a fracture of the superior horn of the thyroid cartilage. The hyoid bone was normal. The autopsy concluded that the cause of death was the result of hypoxia vital. Frequency of fracture of thyroid cartilage ranges from rare to frequent in the literature (between 0 and 50 %). Fracture of hyoid bone is less frequently reported. Hyoid bone and/or thyroid cartilage fractures are most frequently identified in victims who are older. The role played by the type of suspension in the cause of fractures is not clear. © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS.

Language: fr

Keywords

adult; human; Suicide; Autopsy; male; asphyxia; autopsy; case report; hanging; hyoid bone; middle aged; larynx cartilage; hypoxia; Article; cartilage fracture; Neck injury; Complete/incomplete hanging; incomplete hanging