Dunsby Ann-Marie, Davison Andrew M
FP2 Psychiatry, St. Tydfils Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, UK.
Med Sci Law. 2011 Apr;51(2):109-13. doi: 10.1258/msl.2010.010209.
The principal aims of this retrospective study were to assess the prevalence and causes of laryngo-hyoid fractures found in coroners' adult postmortem examinations over a five-year period. In 78 of 1930 cases (4%), there was a fracture of the larynx (thyroid or cricoid cartilage) or hyoid bone. The thyroid cartilage alone was fractured in 38 cases; the hyoid bone alone was fractured in 19 cases; the larynx and hyoid bone were both fractured in 21 cases, including one which involved the cricoid cartilage. There was no evidence of surface injury to the neck in 14.1% of cases. The majority (44/78; 56.4%) involved classical manual or ligature 'pressure to the neck', i.e. hanging (32) or strangulation (12) but a significant minority (35.9%) involved other circumstances: road/rail traffic collision (12; 15.4%); falls (6; 7.7%); assaults involving blunt force trauma to the head and neck (4; 5.1%); incised wounds (3; 3.8%); gunshot wounds (2; 2.6%); and explosion (1; 1.3%). The circumstances of death and cause of fracture(s) were 'unascertained' in four cases (5.1%). Postmortem artefact accounted for two cases (2.6%).
这项回顾性研究的主要目的是评估在五年期间验尸官对成年人进行的尸检中发现的喉-舌骨骨折的患病率和原因。在1930例病例中的78例（4%）中，存在喉部（甲状腺或环状软骨）或舌骨骨折。仅甲状腺软骨骨折38例；仅舌骨骨折19例；喉部和舌骨均骨折21例，其中1例累及环状软骨。14.1%的病例颈部无表面损伤迹象。大多数（44/78；56.4%）涉及典型的手动或绳索“颈部施压”，即上吊（32例）或勒死（12例），但少数（35.9%）涉及其他情况：道路/铁路交通事故（12例；15.4%）；跌倒（6例；7.7%）；涉及头部和颈部钝器伤的袭击（4例；5.1%）；切割伤（3例；3.8%）；枪伤（2例；2.6%）；爆炸（1例；1.3%）。4例（5.1%）死亡情况和骨折原因“未查明”。死后人为因素占2例（2.6%）。
