Fatal and non-fatal strangulation in Sweden: A retrospective analysis of injury patterns and forensic implications

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q1 MEDICINE, LEGAL

Forensic science international Pub Date : 2025-08-19 DOI:10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112614

Anna Jinghede Sundwall , Shilan Caman , Brita Zilg

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Strangulation is a gendered and under-recognized form of violence often linked to intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault, predominantly affecting women. Understanding injury patterns in non-fatal (NFS) and fatal strangulation (FS) is essential for diagnosis, prosecution, and prevention.

Objective

This study examines injury patterns and forensic characteristics in NFS and FS cases in Sweden, contributing evidence to support clinical and forensic assessments.

Methods

This retrospective study analyzed 617 NFS cases from 2022 and 139 FS cases from 2003–2022, sourced from the Swedish National Board of Forensic Medicine. Chi-square and Fisher’s Exact Test assessed associations between strangulation method and injury patterns.

Results

Manual strangulation predominated in NFS (96 %), while FS cases had a near-equal distribution of manual and ligature methods. Petechiae were much more common in FS (91 %) than in NFS (4 %), but no significant differences were observed in the occurrence of petechiae between the different types of strangulation. Fractures of neck structures were more frequent in older FS victims compared to younger. IPV was the primary context in both NFS (67 %) and FS (43 %) cases, with a majority of victims being female.

Conclusions

Distinct injury patterns were observed in NFS and FS emphasizing the need for thorough forensic assessments. The findings underscore the importance of clinical vigilance and standardized documentation of injuries in suspected strangulation cases to support legal investigations and prevent future violence.

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致死性和非致死性勒死在瑞典：伤害模式和法医意义的回顾性分析

勒死是一种性别歧视且未得到充分认识的暴力形式，通常与亲密伴侣暴力（IPV）和性侵犯有关，主要影响妇女。了解非致死性（NFS）和致死性绞勒（FS）的伤害模式对诊断、起诉和预防至关重要。目的：本研究探讨瑞典NFS和FS病例的损伤模式和法医特征，为临床和法医评估提供证据。方法回顾性分析来自瑞典国家法医委员会的2022年617例NFS病例和2003-2022年139例FS病例。卡方检验和Fisher精确检验评估了勒死方法和伤害模式之间的关系。结果NFS以手工绞杀为主（96% %），FS以手工和结扎方式分布相近。瘀点在FS（91 %）比NFS（4 %）更常见，但在不同类型的绞窄中观察到瘀点的发生率无显著差异。与年轻人相比，老年FS患者更容易发生颈部结构骨折。IPV是NFS（67 %）和FS（43 %）病例的主要背景，大多数受害者是女性。结论在NFS和FS中观察到不同的损伤模式，强调需要进行彻底的法医评估。调查结果强调了临床警惕和对疑似勒死案件的伤害进行标准化记录的重要性，以支持法律调查和预防未来的暴力行为。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Forensic science international 医学-医学：法

CiteScore

5.00

自引率

9.10%

发文量

285

审稿时长

49 days

期刊介绍： Forensic Science International is the flagship journal in the prestigious Forensic Science International family, publishing the most innovative, cutting-edge, and influential contributions across the forensic sciences. Fields include: forensic pathology and histochemistry, chemistry, biochemistry and toxicology, biology, serology, odontology, psychiatry, anthropology, digital forensics, the physical sciences, firearms, and document examination, as well as investigations of value to public health in its broadest sense, and the important marginal area where science and medicine interact with the law. The journal publishes: Case Reports Commentaries Letters to the Editor Original Research Papers (Regular Papers) Rapid Communications Review Articles Technical Notes.