Microscopic analysis of compression injury over neck: One-year prospective study

Abstract

The present study was conducted in Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of a Government Medical College and Hospital in year 2017. Total 2781 postmortem examinations were conducted in 2017. Out of that total 2781 cases, 176 compression of neck cases came for postmortem and amongst these 105 cases were studied in detail as per inclusion criteria. Out of 105 cases of compression around neck, which were studied, there were 93 cases of hanging, 10 cases of ligature strangulation, 01 case of manual strangulation and 01 case of accidental strangulation studied. On gross in total 11 cases of strangulation hemorrhage in subcutaneous tissue, strap muscle and sternocleidomastoid muscle observed and in only 20 cases of hanging there was hemorrhage observed in subcutaneous tissue and no hemorrhage observed in strap and sternocleidomastoid muscle in hanging cases. In this present study on histopathology vascular congestion and extravasation of red blood cells observed in 28 cases of compression of neck. These findings indicate the importance of histopathology of underlying neck structure in neck compression cases in documenting antemortem nature of hanging and strangulation in doubtful cases.