LIGATURE MARK ON THE NECK

Abstract

Introduction: There are three types of compression of neck which are of primeforensic importance – (1) Manual strangulation (2) Hanging (3) Ligature strangulation. Ligaturemark is found in the latter two types.1 Ligature mark is a pressure mark on the neck underneaththe ligature. Initially it appears as a pale groove which on drying becomes yellowish brownparchment like.2,5 Objective: The aim is to study the information provided by a ligature markin ligature asphyxial deaths. Methodology: Study Design: A retrospective study on ligatureasphyxial deaths. Setting: Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Departments of King EdwardMedical University, Lahore and Nishtar Medical College, Multan. Period: January, 2012 toDecember, 2013. Results: The incidence of violent ligature asphyxial deaths was 4.21% of thetotal medicolegal deaths autopsied. Age group 21 to 30 years accounted for the maximumcases (37.6%). Male: female ratio was 1.02. Nylon rope (44.7%) was the most common ligaturematerial used. Ligature mark was single in all cases and was situated above thyroid cartilage in82.92% cases of hanging. In ligature strangulation deaths, mark was one in number in 93.18%cases and was below thyroid cartilage in 97.72% cases. The manner of death in hangingwas mostly suicidal (90.24%) as compared to homicidal in all cases of ligature strangulation.Ligature mark was incompletely encircling the neck in 85.36% cases and obliquely present in100% cases of hanging. In all deaths due to ligature strangulation, it was completely encirclingand transversely present around the neck. Underlying soft tissues of neck were glisteningwhite in all hanging deaths while it showed extravasations of blood in all ligature strangulationcases. Conclusions: A meticulous examination of the ligature mark during autopsy, though notconclusive, can give valuable information that can be very helpful in diagnosing deaths due tohanging and ligature strangulation.