Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

  • Year: 2019
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue: 2

An Autopsy Study of Patho-Anatomic Findings and Inter-Related Conditions in Cases of Deaths Due to Compression of Neck

  • Author:
  • Ashok Kumr Agnihotri1,, Akhilesh Agarwal2, Anshu Mishra3, Mona Singh4, Ankit Kesarvani4, Gunbir Singh5
  • Total Page Count: 6
  • Page Number: 213 to 218

1Lecturer, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Government Medical College, Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, India

2Professor, HOD, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Government Medical College, Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh, India

3Professor, OBS & Gynecology, GSVM Medical College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

4Junior Resident, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Government Medical College, Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, India

5MBBS, Government Medical College, Amritsar, Bir Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

*Corresponding author: Dr. Ashok Kumr Agnihotri, Lecturer, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Government Medical College, Kannauj, UP, India, E-mail: drashokagnihotri593@gmail.com

Online published on 7 May, 2019.

Abstract

Compression of neck due to hanging is common cause of death. The present study was conducted to determine patho-anatomic findings and inter-related conditions in autopsies.

The present study was conducted on 134 deaths reported due to hanging in last 8 months. The site of ligature mark, causative factors, number of ligature mark, course and position of ligature mark on the neck, material used and the position of knot was recorded.

Out of 134 cases, 70 were in males and 64 in females. Maximum cases were in age group 20–30 years. Most common causes for hanging was drug addiction seen in 35 and psychiatric illness in 30. The number of ligature marks was single in 90 (67.1%) and multiple in 44 (32.9%) cases. The type of material used was chunni in 24, bed sheet in 16, rope in 62, sari in10, pant/pajama in 8 and electric wire in 14 cases.

Compression of neck due to hanging is common cause of deaths. Authors found that most common causes for hanging was drug addiction and psychiatric illness.

Keywords

Autopsy, Hanging, Neck