Traecheostomy Associated Artefact Mimic Strangulation Injuries: A Case Report

Any change produced, or feature introduced, in a body after death, which is accidentally or physiologically unrelated to the natural state of the body is termed as an artefacts. Since artefacts may lead to misinterpretation of post-mortem findings, it is important to rule them out. Artefacts may be produced for a variety of reasons. A case is reported where a chronic alcoholic old male suffering from schizophrenia found dead at his home. At autopsy partially healed scar was present on his neck with effusion of blood in neck structures. Due to non corroboration of history and findings, reinter view of relatives was done which revealed Traecheostomy was done recently. Hereby, the importance of proper history taking is emphasized to distinguish between artefacts and inflicted injuries.