1. Accidental Decapitation: An Unusual Injury to a Passenger in a Vehicle

Kibayashi, Kazuhiko; Yonemitsu, Kosei; K, Honjyo; Tsunenari, Shigeyuki

doi:10.1177/002580249903900115

Cited by 22 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Decapitation is a rare event in civilian populations. In forensic practice, decapitated bodies are usually associated with accidental explosions or vehicle crashes [7][8][9]. Decapitation has been reported to occur also in suicidal and homicidal deaths.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medico-legal evaluation of deaths due to decapitation

Kumral¹,

Büyük²,

Gündoğmuş³

et al. 2012

RJLM

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Decapitation of bodies is a rare event in the civilian setting and is reported to account for approximately 0.1 % of medico-legal autopsies. Suicidal decapitation is a very rare method of self-destruction. In suicidal decapitation, the favored method is the one involving trains. Other encountered methods are decapitation in suicidal hanging, vehicle-assisted ligature suicide. Though being encountered rarely decapitation by guillotine was also reported. In this retrospective study, in order to depict characteristic features of deaths with decapitation, we presented the findings of fatalities with decapitation over a 10-year period in a medico-legal autopsy series in Istanbul, Turkey. A total of 36270 forensic autopsies were performed over the period of the study and in 19 cases, the bodies were found to be decapitated (0.05 %). The age range of decapitated bodies was 18 to 71 years (average 39,1 years), with a male to female ratio of 13/6. There was only one case of suicide and the way used for suicide was a mechanism like guillotine. In this case, a guillotine-like device designed by male victim had been used for deliberately decapitating the body. The age of the suicide case was 41 years. There was no female suicide case. There were 13 deaths of accidental origin. 6 vehicle crashes and 7 train-pedestrian accidents. The age range of individuals died in accidents was 26 to 68 years (average 36.8 years) with a male to female ratio of 11/2. During the study period the number of the homicide cases with decapitation was 5. The age range of homicide cases was 18 to 71 years (average, 45.2 years), with a male to female ratio of ¼. There were multiple traumas in other body parts of the bodies of homicide cases together with decapitation. In majority of homicide cases, multiple stab wounds were detected. Decapitation level of vertebrae was at the level of 3-4 cervical vertebrae in 9 cases and different levels at cervical region in other cases.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medico-legal evaluation of deaths due to decapitation

Kumral¹,

Büyük²,

Gündoğmuş³

et al. 2012

RJLM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…As a curiosity, one case of a suicidal decapitation using a tractor loader has also been reported (36). Complete decapitation may also occur incidentally with various types of traffic accidents (37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43). Finally, complete decapitation may be the result of criminal corpse dismemberment (5,(44)(45)(46)(47).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decapitation in Suicidal Hanging – Vital Reaction Patterns

Hejna

Bohnert

2012

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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Complete or incomplete decapitation as a consequence of suicidal hanging is very rare, few cases having been reported in the worldwide literature. Posthanging decapitation is typically related to a drop of several meters. Three cases of complete decapitation and one case of incomplete decapitation by suicidal hanging are reported with particular emphasis on internal findings and vital reaction patterns. Personal, circumstantial, autopsy, and toxicological data were analyzed to define basic characteristics of such extreme injuries. The crucial factor for the state of decapitation itself is the kinetic energy of the falling body, the strength of the human neck tissue, and the diameter and elasticity of the used ligature. Results of our case study suggest Simon's hemorrhage and air embolism as useful autopsy findings in posthanging beheading cases. Simon's hemorrhage was demonstrated in three cases of four. The test for air embolism was positive in all four cases.

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“…Decapitation may be associated with failure to use seat belts, fast driving speed, and road barriers. 10,11 Unrestrained children may also be at risk for decapitation from airbags. 12 Decapitation from industrial trauma may occur at any age, associated with heavy machinery in workshops or farm equipment being towed behind a tractor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristic Features of Deaths Due to Decapitation

Byard

Gilbert

2004

American Journal of Forensic Medicine &Amp; Pathology

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Deaths due to decapitation are rare in civilian populations. A study in South Australia over 17 years from January 1986 to December 2002 revealed 20 cases (age range, 14 to 72 years; average, 30.7 years; male to female ratio, 15:5). There were 13 suicides consisting of 11 train-related deaths (age range, 14 to 72 years; average, 31.3 years; male to female ratio, 10:1), 1 hanging death, and 1 death using a ligature and a motor vehicle. Five cases related to motor vehicle crashes (age range, 19 to 46 years; average, 30.2 years; male to female ratio, 1:4) and 2 were associated with industrial trauma. Suicidal decapitation accounted for <1% of total suicides and showed a striking male predominance, with the favored method involving trains.

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1. Accidental Decapitation: An Unusual Injury to a Passenger in a Vehicle

Cited by 22 publications

References 7 publications

Medico-legal evaluation of deaths due to decapitation

Medico-legal evaluation of deaths due to decapitation

Decapitation in Suicidal Hanging – Vital Reaction Patterns

Characteristic Features of Deaths Due to Decapitation

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