A Study of Bony and Cartilaginous Neck Structures in Deaths Due to Suicidal Hanging at New Delhi

The present prospective study was done at Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi. In this study the incidences of the bony and cartilaginous injuries in 100 cases of deaths due to hanging were analysed with the gender, age, socio economic status, place of hanging, the type of suspension, the location of the knot, type of the knot, the type of hanging. 76(76%) of cases were males and the majority of the cases were from 21–30 age group, 94(94%) of the victims belonged to the low socioeconomic status, 97(97%) of the cases hanged themselves indoor, 2(2%) had committed suicide by hanging at their workplace, 81(81%) cases had complete type of hanging and 64(64%) had atypical type of hanging. In our study there were 42 (42%) cases had some injuries in their bony and cartilaginous neck structures. Hyoid bone fractures were found in 6(6%) cases, thyroid cartilage injury was seen in 39(39%) cases among which 3 cases had both hyoid and thyroid cartilage fracture in combination. All the above injuries occurred only in cases with complete type of hanging. The incidence of such injuries was more frequent in males who had typical and complete type of hanging.