Indian Journal of Forensic and Community Medicine

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Analysis of postmortem findings of asphyxial deaths due to Hanging in urban region of Karnataka

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Author Details: V. Dekal, Shruthi P

Volume : 3

Issue : 2

Online ISSN : 2394-6776

Print ISSN : 2394-6768

Article First Page : 121

Article End Page : 123

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Abstract

Hanging, a form of deliberate self-harm accounts for a large proportion of autopsies which forensic experts come across in their clinical tenure at various hospitals in almost all parts of India. A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore from April 2004 to March 2006, with an objective to study the post mortem findings in autopsy cases of hanging. Out of 810 autopsies, 27.9% cases were that of hanging. Most cases were atypical (95.6%) and complete hanging (90.3%) with the ligature mark situated above the thyroid cartilage. 34.1% 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 15.49% of cases. This study depicts the possible findings in a suspected case of hanging which ought to be anticipated to avoid any flawed opinion.

Key Words: Violent asphyxia, Hanging, Autopsy, Salivary stains, Hyoid bone, Thyroid cartilage