TY - CONF

T1 - Hanging deaths with fabrics as ligatures: demographics and injuries in neck structures

AU - Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Department

AU - Norlander Arvidsson, Jannika

PY - 2022/5/30

Y1 - 2022/5/30

N2 - We retrospectively analyzed the autopsy records of the Swedish National Board of Forensic Medicine between 1992 and 2018 to document the characteristics of suicidal hangings with a ligature made of fabric.Among the 146 identified cases the compression mark was most often > 2 cm (65.1 %) in width, V-shaped (80.8 %) and localized at the front/right/left side of the neck (57.5 %). The skin at the compression mark was most often parchment-dried (78.1 %), grooved in (52.1 %) and/or abraded (50.0%).Petechial bleedings were observed more often (54.8 %) in comparison to the results of studies on unselected hangings (23-46 %). In cases of underweight and obesity a non-conclusive negativ association were observed with petechial bleedings, in comparison to normal weight, using an univariate logistic regression model.Fractures of the hyoid bone and/or the thyroid cartilage were just as common (31.5 %) as in studies on unselected hangings (20-47 %). In a logistic regression model a conclusive association were observed between fractures and increasing age and a non-conclusive association were observed between fractures and increasing BMI.In suicidal hangings with a ligature made of fabrics, the compression mark was most often > 2 cm in width, parchment dried and in about half of the cases it was grooved in and/or abraded. Also, petechial bleedings tended to be more common, while fractures was just as common as in unselected suicidal hangings with different types of ligature. Following this, findings may indicate that body size and ligature material influence the development of petechial bleedings and fractures.

AB - We retrospectively analyzed the autopsy records of the Swedish National Board of Forensic Medicine between 1992 and 2018 to document the characteristics of suicidal hangings with a ligature made of fabric.Among the 146 identified cases the compression mark was most often > 2 cm (65.1 %) in width, V-shaped (80.8 %) and localized at the front/right/left side of the neck (57.5 %). The skin at the compression mark was most often parchment-dried (78.1 %), grooved in (52.1 %) and/or abraded (50.0%).Petechial bleedings were observed more often (54.8 %) in comparison to the results of studies on unselected hangings (23-46 %). In cases of underweight and obesity a non-conclusive negativ association were observed with petechial bleedings, in comparison to normal weight, using an univariate logistic regression model.Fractures of the hyoid bone and/or the thyroid cartilage were just as common (31.5 %) as in studies on unselected hangings (20-47 %). In a logistic regression model a conclusive association were observed between fractures and increasing age and a non-conclusive association were observed between fractures and increasing BMI.In suicidal hangings with a ligature made of fabrics, the compression mark was most often > 2 cm in width, parchment dried and in about half of the cases it was grooved in and/or abraded. Also, petechial bleedings tended to be more common, while fractures was just as common as in unselected suicidal hangings with different types of ligature. Following this, findings may indicate that body size and ligature material influence the development of petechial bleedings and fractures.

M3 - Poster

T2 - 9th conference of the European Academy of Forensic Sciences

Y2 - 30 May 2022

ER -