Anatomopathological findings in hangings: a retrospective autopsy study.

BACKGROUND

In this retrospective autopsy study, we aimed to review the anatomopathological findings observed in cases of hanging death for a five year period and to evaluate the role of contributing factors such as age, sex, type of hanging and localization of the ligature knot.

METHODS

Autopsy reports of 102 hanging cases performed by the Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Pamukkale University, between January 2007 and September 2011, were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

In the 102 hanging cases 73 of the victims were males (71.6%) and 29 (28.4%) were females, with a mean age of 40.97 ± 17.41 years. All cases were suicidal hanging. Fifty four cases (52.9%) were typical hanging, with the ligature knot located posteriorly. There were petechial hemorrhage on the face and eye lids in 46 (45.1%), ecchymoses of the cervicale muscles in 43 (42.2%), and fractures of the neck structure(s) in 69 cases (67.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of neck structure fractures increased with age. In addition, there was no correlation between the incidence of neck structure fractures and sex or type of hanging.