Crucial Factors Frequently Overlooked in Deaths due to Hanging: A Prospective Study

For long time forensic investigators have considered Hyoid and laryngeal injuries as important findings in cases of deaths due to strangulation. Further the incidence of injuries to the neck structures in such cases being related to various factors like the age, gender, the type of the hanging based on suspension and the position of the knot are well documented. Our study highlights the impact of other crucial factors which are usually overlooked, but having strong association in the deaths due to strangulations in general and hanging in particular. The study was undertaken in Central Delhi in 100 cases of hanging, where we studied the association between the hyoid and laryngeal fractures with other variables like type of the ligature material used, the number of turns around the neck, the width of the ligature mark, the type of the knot (fixed/running noose), the duration of suspension and the Body Mass Index of the individuals. In our study 42% of cases had hyoid/laryngeal injuries. These injuries were more common in those who had used hard ligature material with more than one turn around their neck and with a broader ligature mark on their neck. Hyoid and laryngeal injuries were also more common in victims who had a running noose and a prolonged duration of suspension.