Autopsy findings in Fatal neck Compression cases at Western Regional Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal

Abstract

Background: Violent asphyxial deaths chiefly include death due to hanging, strangulation, suffocation and drowning. Deaths resulting from hanging and ligature strangulation both show similar type of findings in which the ligature marks at the neck is very important characteristic finding. That’s why it is a challenge for forensic experts and needs thorough knowledge and experience to differentiate between them. Some of the typical autopsy findings help autopsy surgeon in such dilemma. Objective of Present study is about the external and internal autopsy findings in fatal neck compression cases specially focusing on hanging and ligature strangulation cases to differentiate and clear the dilemma in such cases. Materials and Methods: Current study was conducted among 103 corpses with compression of neck by ligature materials brought for autopsy examination at Mortuary of Forensic Medicine Department of Western Regional Hospital Pokhara from February2017 to January 2018. Conclusion: In fatal neck compression cases external autopsy findings like dribbling of saliva from angle of mouth, facial pallor, urine and fecal material discharge were common finding in 99 cases of hanging where as it was variable in ligature strangulation cases. Similarly fracture of hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage was found in hanging cases with age greater than 38 years but not in any ligature strangulation cases as an internal autopsy finding.