[Routine examination of cervical spinal cord and spinal column during forensic autopsies]

Examination of the cervical spinal cord is a rare additional autopsy technique applied in forensic autopsies. Injuries of the neck region are fatal in a considerable number of cases. However, such technique is neglected especially while a different cause of death is found. Research on 316 autopsy cases (about 10% of all cases during that time) was undertaken. Groups of "possible trauma" (gross anatomy and microscopic examination of the cervical spinal cord) and "possible non-trauma" (gross anatomy examination) cases were investigated. There were 68 gross anatomy and 61 microscopic (blood suffusions) "positive" findings. There were about 40% gross anatomy and about 46% microscopic (blood suffusions) changes giving evidence of trauma of that region in groups of victims of traffic accidents. Techniques of examination of the cervical spinal cord and spinal column with the addition of microscopy in selected cases can prove the cause and mechanism of death. While neglected, especially in obscure autopsy cases, could give the reason that possible medical malpractice occurred.