[Laryngeal fractures due presumably to tracheal intubation in resuscitation]

In three autopsy cases performed in our department, we observed the throat-skeleton fractures occurring presumably during the tracheal intubation in resuscitation. Case 1. 63-year-old man died of acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis shortly after the quarrel with a suspected person. The autopsy examination showed the fractured hyoid bone with haemorrhage at the fracture site. The question whether direct pressure on his neck by the suspected person results the fracture of the hyoid bone was investigated. Case 2. 75-year-old man treated for senile dementia was clubbed with a walking stick by the other patient treated for same disease and he died of traumatic shock. The fracture of the hyoid bone was also noted like case 1. The strike in the throat and/or the neck compression by the assailant were suspected of being the cause of this fracture. Case 3. 47-year-old man got the severe head injury during the quarrel. He died about two weeks after operation and the cause of death was multiple organ failure. The autopsy findings revealed the fracture of the superior thyroid horn. The neck compression by the suspected person was the questionable cause of this fracture. In all these cases, the asphyxia findings and the signs of the direct pressure on the neck by the assailants were not recognized other than the above-mentioned laryngeal fractures. From the autopsy findings, together with the criminal investigation, we consider collectively that the tracheal intubation in resuscitation induced presumably these laryngeal injuries. In general, throat-skeleton fractures seem to be the signs of homicidal violence against the neck.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)