Anatomopathological findings in hangings: A retrospective autopsy study

Abstract

Background: In this retrospective autopsy study, we aimed to review the anatomopathological findings observed in cases of hanging death for a five year period and to evaluate the role of contributing factors such as age, sex, type of hanging and localization of the ligature knot. Methods: Autopsy reports of 102 hanging cases performed by the Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Pamukkale University, between January 2007 and September 2011, were retrospectively reviewed. Results: In the 102 hanging cases 73 of the victims were males (71.6%) and 29 (28.4%) were females, with a mean age of 40.97±17.41 years. All cases were suicidal hanging. Fifty four cases (52.9%) were typical hanging, with the ligature knot located posteriorly. There were petechial hemorrhage on the face and eye lids in 46 (45.1%), ecchymoses of the cervicale muscles in 43 (42.2%), and fractures of the neck structure(s) in 69 cases (67.6%). Conclusions: The incidence of neck structure fractures increased with age. In addition, there was no correlation between the incidence of neck structure fractures and sex or type of hanging.