Cervical spine injuries in suicidal hanging without a long-drop—patterns and possible underlying mechanisms of injury: an autopsy study

Nikolić, Slobodan; Živković, Vladimir

doi:10.1007/s12024-014-9550-y

Cited by 25 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Cervical spine injuries are considered rare in suicidal hanging ranging from 0% to 9.9% (Table ). They are more common in judicial type hanging where long drop is a factor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retrospective Analysis of Hanging Deaths in Ontario

Tugaleva

Gorassini

Shkrum

2016

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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Hanging deaths from investigation standpoint are rarely problematic. Unusual circumstances can on occasion raise suspicion of foul play. Associated neck injuries are reported in the literature with variable frequency (from 0% to 76.8%). This study retrospectively analyzed 755 hanging deaths in Ontario (Canada) to evaluate the demographic features and circumstances of hanging fatalities, and the frequency of hanging-related neck injuries. A number of cases showed unusual/special circumstances (e.g., complex, double suicides, restraints). Among 632 cases with complete autopsies, hyoid and larynx fractures were present in 46 cases (7.3%) with the most common being isolated hyoid fractures. The incidence of cricoid fractures was 0.5% and cervical spine injuries, 1.1%. A higher incidence of neck injuries occurred among males, long drop hangings, and in cases with complete suspension. There was a tendency for the number of fractures to increase with increasing age and weight of the deceased.

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“…Cervical spine injuries are considered rare in suicidal hanging ranging from 0% to 9.9% (Table ). They are more common in judicial type hanging where long drop is a factor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retrospective Analysis of Hanging Deaths in Ontario

Tugaleva

Gorassini

Shkrum

2016

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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“…The influence of the GCS on outcome is inconsistent in the reported literature. 3,5,6 We found that a GCS < 8 was a predictor of poor outcome but a low GCS was also seen in 52% of patients with a good outcome (Table 1). The motor score component of the GCS, which has not been previously investigated as an independent variable in near-hanging, appears to be a much better indicator of the outcome than the total GCS score, similar to studies in head injury.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Study of the factors at admission predicting the outcome in patients with attempted suicidal hanging

et al. 2017

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“…Although, hyperextension has been described by majority of authors as the most common neck movement for causing fracture-dislocation, ante-flexion was also found by few (Zhu et al 2000). Nikolic & Zivkovic reported cervical spine injury in a cases of hanging without long-drop pattern with a frequency 3.27% (Nikolic and Zivkovic 2014). But, in his series all the victims were old aged with severe osteoporotic changes in bones.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Sub-occipital ligature knot in a case of long drop suicidal hanging with rare autopsy finding of cervical spine fracture

Ghormade

Sarma

Gajbhiye³

2018

Egypt J Forensic Sci

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Background: Hangman's fracture (Fracture of cervical vertebrae) in hanging is usually described into the context of judicial type of hanging where the individual is dropped from a calculated height with sub-mental or sub-aural position of ligature knot. Such a long drop with typical upper cervical vertebral fracture is a rare entity in a case of suicidal hanging. Case presentation: We have described such a case where an average built deceased weighing 62 kg hang himself with a nylon rope by jumping from a branch of tree with a drop length of 6.3 m, which was sufficiently long enough to cause soft tissue injuries, transection of larynx along with fracture and dislocation of cervical spine at C2-C3 level contrary to the fact that position of ligature knot was in sub-occipital area. Hence, this rare case is discussed with reference to the probable mechanism involved in causation of such internal injuries. Conclusion: In our case of long drop hanging, we found fracture of cervical spine when ligature knot was placed at sub-occipital position which is a rare autopsy finding. We also noticed deep laceration of skin and transection of larynx as extremely rare finding in hanging caused by flexible and blunt nylon rope used as ligature material.

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Cervical spine injuries in suicidal hanging without a long-drop—patterns and possible underlying mechanisms of injury: an autopsy study

Cited by 25 publications

References 23 publications

Retrospective Analysis of Hanging Deaths in Ontario

Retrospective Analysis of Hanging Deaths in Ontario

Study of the factors at admission predicting the outcome in patients with attempted suicidal hanging

Sub-occipital ligature knot in a case of long drop suicidal hanging with rare autopsy finding of cervical spine fracture

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