Ubelaker D H
Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.
J Forensic Sci. 1992 Sep;37(5):1216-22.
Observation of hyoid fracture in skeletonized remains offers potentially valuable information on the history of the skeleton or evidence of foul play, or both. Perimortem hyoid fracture frequently indicates manual strangulation, although ligature strangulation, hanging, and other forms of trauma to the neck cannot be ruled out without additional evidence. Such fractures are rare in children and infants, since the hyoid components are not fully ossified and are more flexible than in adults. Both antemortem and postmortem origins of the fractures must also be considered.
对骨骼遗骸中舌骨骨折的观察可为骨骼的历史或暴力行为证据，或两者提供潜在的有价值信息。濒死期舌骨骨折常提示手动勒杀，不过在没有其他证据的情况下，不能排除绳索勒杀、绞刑及其他颈部创伤形式。此类骨折在儿童和婴儿中罕见，因为舌骨各部分未完全骨化，且比成人更具柔韧性。骨折的生前和死后成因也都必须加以考虑。
