Traumatic and Postural Asphyxia, Physical Restraint

Abstract

Deaths attributed to traumatic asphyxia, positional or postural asphyxia, and physical restraint share the common mechanism of a mechanically induced inability to recruit respiratory muscles that is caused by either mechanical compression of the chest or a particular position of the body. Since autopsy findings are rather nonspecific, the forensic expert has to consider scene investigation information as well as toxicological and other analyses for the diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia, positional asphyxia, or physical restraint and for the exclusion of other causes of death. Pathophysiological aspects and typical case constellations are discussed.