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Suicidal hanging in Cardiff--a 15-year retrospective study
1Department of Forensic Pathology, Wales Institute of Forensic Medicine, Cardiff Royal Infirmary, UK.
Forensic Science International
|October 1, 1992
Summary
Suicidal hanging cases show specific physical signs like petechial hemorrhages and fractures. Fracture occurrence in suicidal hanging is linked to age and ligature type, but other signs appear independently.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Toxicology
- Medical Science
Background:
- Suicidal hanging is a significant cause of death worldwide.
- Understanding the physical findings in hanging cases is crucial for forensic investigations.
- Previous studies have reported various postmortem findings, but their correlation with specific factors requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the frequency and correlation of specific postmortem findings in suicidal hanging cases.
- To investigate the relationship between physical signs (petechial hemorrhages, soft tissue hemorrhage, hyoid/laryngeal fractures) and factors such as age, suspension completeness, and ligature type.
- To compare findings with existing literature and discuss potential mechanisms of causation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 84 cases of suicidal hanging.
- Documentation of postmortem findings including petechial hemorrhages, congestion, soft tissue hemorrhage, and fractures of the hyoid or laryngeal cartilages.
- Correlation of findings with patient age, suspension completeness, and ligature type (soft vs. hard).
Main Results:
- Petechial hemorrhages/congestion observed in 27%, soft tissue hemorrhage in 29%, and fractures in 36% of cases.
- Fractures were associated with increasing age and were absent with soft ligatures.
- Petechial hemorrhages/congestion correlated with the completeness of suspension.
- Other findings occurred irrespective of age, suspension, or ligature type, except for the absence of fractures with soft ligatures.
- No evidence of clustering or seasonality was found.
Conclusions:
- Hyoid or laryngeal fractures in suicidal hanging are influenced by age and ligature material.
- The presence of petechial hemorrhages and congestion is indicative of complete suspension.
- While some findings are specific, others appear common across various hanging scenarios, aiding in forensic interpretation.
- The study contributes to understanding the biomechanics and postmortem indicators in suicidal hanging.