International Journal of Medical and Health Research

Authors
Dr. Amit Yadav, Dr. Divyesh Saxena, Dr. Pradeep Mishra, Dr. Abhishek

Abstract
Background: Violent asphyxial deaths is one of the most important cause for unnatural deaths among which hanging and ligature strangulation are commonly encountered in the professional life of forensic expert during day to day autopsy. Aims: The aim of the study is to analyse the postmortem findings of asphyxial deaths due to Hanging. Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Science, Indore, M.P from April 2012 to March 2013, with an objective to study the post mortem findings in autopsy cases of hanging. Results: Out of 700 autopsies, 30.28% cases were that of hanging. Most cases were atypical (95.3%) and complete hanging (91.98%) with the ligature mark situated above the thyroid cartilage. 33% of cases had dried salivary stain at the angle of mouth and 1.3% cases showed involuntary discharge. The incidence of fracture of hyoid bone was 15% of cases. This study depicts the possible findings in a suspected case of hanging which ought to be anticipated to avoid any flawed opinion. Conclusion: Age is doubtlessly one of the most important variable contribute to the fracture of the neck structure in hanging. The fracture of hyoid bone should preferably be confirmed by radiography and histology before cataloging it as an ante-mortem fracture. Dribbling of saliva present in case of hanging is a sure sign of antemortem hanging.