A one-year retrospective study of deaths due to hanging autopsied at government Kilpauk Medical College & hospital, Chennai

Hanging is a common method of committing suicide accounting for about 20% of medico-legal deaths reported in Govt. Kilpauk Medical College, in the year 2015. Among the 618 cases of hanging, two-thirds are men; 21–30 years of age is the most susceptible. Most of them are illiterates and dailywagers. Chronic depression, accounting for 26.6% of hanging deaths is the most common provoking factor. 95.3% of them hang in their home, most frequently in the evening times. Saree is the most commonly used hanging material and fan is the commonly encountered suspension point. Regarding the post-mortem findings, bluish discoloration of finger and toe nails and obliquity of the ligature mark are noted in majority of cases, while dribbling of saliva is noted in 0.9% of cases and Le facie sympathique in 2.1% of cases. Multiple ligature mark is seen in 11.6% of cases. In most of the cases ligature mark is present in upper one-third of the neck with patterned abrasion in 16.3% of cases. Sternocleidomastiod contusion is seen in 20.8% of cases. Carotid intimal tears are noted in 3.8% of cases. None of the cases had hyoid or laryngeal fractures. In addition to the socio-demographic profile and the various unique post-mortem findings, this study is to suggest some preventive measures to avoid fatalities.