钝性椎动脉损伤的特点及法医学鉴定

钝性椎动脉损伤在法医学实践中时有发生,但因椎动脉大部分区域走行位置较深,容易出现漏检甚至错检。本文通过文献综述,发现其致伤方式多样,可由一种或多种成伤机制同时作用,伤者常因直接损伤或继发性动脉瘤、夹层等病变,引起即刻或迟发性脑卒中以及压迫损伤周围结构,轻者致残,重者致死。当合并椎动脉粥样硬化、发育异常等疾病时,将增加致残或死亡的风险以及法医学鉴定的难度。法医学鉴定时须详细了解案情,对疑似椎动脉损伤的案例,除常规检查颅内段外,还应注意检查颅外段。若条件允许,可在解剖前或解剖时辅以血管造影,提高鉴定效率和意见的准确性。     

颈动脉钝性损伤法医学研究进展

颈动脉钝性损伤的发生率虽低,但死亡率高,易发生于交通事故、扼勒、缢吊、颈部直接外力作用和高坠等案例中。颈动脉钝性损伤有5种基础成伤机制：颈部直接外力作用,颈部过度伸展和旋转,颅底骨折碎片切割,口腔内扁桃体窝处直接外力作用,头胸部复合伤造成颈动脉被牵拉。国外相关研究文献和个案报道较多,而国内未见系统研究,不多的个案报道中,也有错误鉴定案例。本文对颈动脉钝性损伤的致伤方式、解剖学和生物学基础、成伤机制和法医学鉴定注意事项进行综述,希望能引起国内法医技术人员的重视,并为相关研究和应用提供参考。     

高坠致颈部软组织损伤机制分析3例

正在法医实践中,高坠尸体颈部软组织损伤并不少见,法医及死者家属发现高坠尸体颈部损伤时均高度重视,但因对此类损伤机制缺乏认识,法医学报道极少,不能正确分析导致死者家属异议或分析错误导致案事件性质误判。本文通过3个查证属实的典型案例进行分析总结,分析高坠致颈部软组织损伤机制,供同仁参考。     

静脉血栓形成的法医学鉴定（附4例分析）

外伤直接导致血管损伤的法医学鉴定并不少见,对此根据外伤史、病历记录和检查可以做出明确的损伤程度和伤残等级评定.但是涉及继发于外伤、手术等情况的静脉血栓形成的法医学鉴定报道较少,而且鉴定有一定难度.本文试图通过4个具体鉴定案例,探讨此类法医学鉴定的特点和难点.     

螺丝刀损伤特征2例

在法医实践中,螺丝刀形成的损伤十分少见,现将笔者所见2例报道如下,并就其损伤的特征、鉴定予以剖析.1 案例资料案例1 1994年11月11日,某港埠公司货场运煤火车箱内发现一具无名男尸,系他人用重量不大、质地坚硬、形态不规则的砖石类钝性物体多次打击头部,致使颅脑损伤,脑疝形成而死亡.该尸头颅右颞部有一长方形创口,大小为0.7cm×0.3cm,创缘较整齐,创周镶边状表皮剥脱皮下出血宽0.1cm,其下颅前窝颞岩底部     

面部创致腮腺导管损伤法医学鉴定1例

腮腺及腮腺导管的损伤常见于面颊部的开放性损伤,特别是咀嚼肌前缘附近的损伤,可造成腮腺导管的部分或完全断裂^（[1]）。面部创导致腮腺导管损伤大多数不易被发现,只能通过临床诊断和其他检查手段加以辅证,故在法医临床鉴定中比较困难。本文通过1例面部创致腮腺导管损伤的法医学鉴定,探讨在法医临床鉴定实践中的有关此类损伤的鉴定方法和步骤,以供同行参考。1案例资料马某某,男性,某建筑工地工人。     

寰枢关节半脱位法医学鉴定25例分析

随着社会经济尤其是现代交通工具的迅猛发展,颈部损伤有日趋增多的现像。据报道颈椎寰枢关节损伤在成人颈椎损伤中占16%,而在儿童高达70%。本文归纳总结了25例寰枢关节损伤案例,就其致伤机制、症状体征、影象学特征、损伤程度鉴定等方面进行讨论,有助于进一步规范此类损伤的法医学鉴定。1案例资料1.1一般情况本文收集了上海市公安局损伤鉴定室1998年至2002年间所受理的25例外伤后诊断为寰枢关节半脱位的案例。所有案例均通过X线和CT检查。经我室鉴定后,明确为半脱位的仅16例,否定9例。否定率之高,提示法医工作者在遇到寰枢关节半脱位的鉴…     

隐匿型间接视神经损伤法医学鉴定3例

在法医学鉴定中,头面部外伤致视神经损伤的案例并不少见。对于头面部损伤较重,尤其是眼部直接损伤的,其在法医学鉴定时不宜引发争议,但有些视神经损伤的伤者伤情特殊,伤后外伤貌似“轻微”,仅有上眼睑或眉弓部或眶部损伤,不伴有其他明显的症状或体征,损伤当时因眼部肿胀而未及时检查视力,易被忽视和漏诊,随着病情进展,视力进行性下降,甚至形成视神经萎缩导致不可逆转的视力损害,此种情况被称之为隐匿型间接视神经损伤。由于此类视神经损伤病情隐匿,在进行鉴定时容易引起较大的争议。笔者遇3例,现报道如下。     

上海市城市轨道交通事故死亡案例分析

目的分析城市轨道交通事故死亡案例特点,为今后此类事故的法医学鉴定以及预防提供参考。方法收集上海市2005--2008年间城市轨道交通事故死亡案例18例,从案件的性质、损伤机制及特征等方面,总结此类案件的法医学特点。结果18例城市轨道交通事故死者,年龄在21～55岁。其中,自杀14例,意外4例;颅脑损伤死亡14例,创伤性休克死亡4例。损伤以撞击、摔跌伤为主,部分存在碾压伤。结论城市轨道交通事故所致损伤具有其特征性,案件性质主要为自杀,部分为偶然的意外事件,具有可防范性。     

胸部闭合性损伤引起无气胸纯大面积皮下气肿1例

胸部闭合性损伤引起无气胸纯大面积皮下气肿１例李志良（山东省潍坊市中级人民法院；潍坊２６１０１１）胸部闭合性损伤致肋骨骨折后引起无气胸纯大面积皮下气肿在法医学文献中报道较少，笔者在鉴定实践中曾遇到一例，现就其形成机制、伤情评定等报道如下：１案例某男，５...     

Traumatic bilateral vertebral artery dissection

Traumatic vertebral artery dissection is not often seen by forensic pathologists, and cases investigated are scarce in the forensic literature. We present the case of a 40-year-old woman cyclist who was struck by a car while wearing a helmet, and was neurologically near normal immediately thereafter at Emergency. She presented 48 h later with acute right hemiparesis, decreasing level of consciousness, and unsteadiness. CT revealed massive cerebellar infarction. CT angiography was normal. The patient died in coma 7 days after injury and autopsy revealed bilateral edematous cerebellar infarction and bilateral vertebral artery dissection. Rotational neck injury and mural tear in the wall of the Atlantic parts of both vertebral arteries is suggested as the possible mechanism of the arterial injury. Head and neck injuries are reported as a precipitating cause of vertebral artery injury. The possible influence of trauma may be further underestimated if longer intervals between vessel dissection and ischemia occur. The current case illustrates that "talk-and-die" syndrome may be due to occult vertebral artery dissection, possibly bilateral. In forensic cases of delayed death after mild trauma to the head and neck, the vertebral arteries should be examined for the cause of death.     

Delayed left anterior and middle cerebral artery hemorrhagic infarctions after attempted strangulation: a case report

The 2 common carotid arteries bifurcate in the neck into the internal and external carotid arteries. The internal carotid artery enters the skull and further divides into the anterior and middle cerebral artery. During its short course in the neck, the carotid artery travels encased in the carotid sheath along with the vagus nerve and the internal jugular vein. During its course in the neck, the carotid artery is quite superficial, making it vulnerable to both penetrating and blunt traumatic injuries. We report here a case of a 40-year-old man who presented to the emergency department after sudden collapse and loss of consciousness a day after an attempted strangulation. Imaging revealed large hemorrhagic infarcts in the left anterior cerebral artery and middle cerebral artery territories as well as a smaller infarcts in the right anterior cerebral artery territory necessitating emergency decompressive hemicraniectomy. Our case report adds to the existing literature on nervous system injury due to strangulation. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of delayed presentation of neurological deficit after attempted strangulation.     

Posttraumatic thrombosis of the middle cerebral artery

Posttraumatic cerebral infarction resulting from carotid or cerebral artery occlusion is rare. Traumatic dissection of the carotid artery is the most frequent cause of infarction, whereas posttraumatic thrombosis of the cerebral artery is very rare. The authors describe a case of posttraumatic thrombosis of the left middle cerebral artery. Early in the morning, a 16-year-old boy was found unconscious in the parking lot of a supermarket. He had received fist blows and kicks to the head, face, body, back, and hip during the night. Computed tomography 10 hours after the violence revealed a gross cerebral infarction in the area of the left middle cerebral artery. He died 9 days after the violence. The autopsy revealed a thrombosis in the left middle cerebral artery. Microscopically, granulation tissue in the intima and a rupture of the internal elastic lamina were observed near the beginning of the artery. It was concluded that the blows to the head and face caused a partial rupture in the arterial wall, leading to thrombosis and cerebral infarction.     

Fatal thrombosis of internal carotid artery following minor blunt trauma to the neck

Fatal traumatic thrombosis of the left internal carotid artery occurred in a 38-year-old man following minor blunt cervical trauma during an altercation. There was no external injury observed on the head, face, or neck. Neurologic deficit developed soon after the injury, which progressed to right hemiplegia. His condition deteriorated and he expired on the sixth hospital day. The gross and microscopic findings of the internal carotid artery are presented and the significance of minor cervical blunt trauma and the possible mechanism for the vascular lesion are discussed.     

Death by chainsaw: fatal kickback injuries to the neck

Each year over 3 million new chainsaws are sold in the United States. The operation of these newer saws combined with the millions of older chainsaws in circulation results in over 28,000 chainsaw-related injures annually. The majority of the injuries involve the hands and lower extremities with less than 10% involving injuries to the head and neck regions. Deaths while operating a chainsaw are extremely rare. The most common hazards associated with chainsaws are injuries caused by kickback, pushback, and pull-in. Kickback is the most common and poses the greatest hazard. Kickback occurs when the rotating chain is stopped suddenly by contact with a more solid area throwing the saw rapidly backward toward the operator. The cause of most injuries can be traced to improper use of the saw or poor judgment on part of the operator. We present two fatal chainsaw deaths; one with an older style saw, and the other with a modern type. In both cases the victims died from fatal injuries received to the neck region from a chainsaw kickback. The first case involved a 49-year-old white male operating an older style chainsaw with limited safety features. The second case involved a 38-year old white male who was operating a newer model chainsaw equipped with a low kickback chain in an unsafe manner.     

Fatal dissecting aneurysm of the internal carotid artery with delayed symptoms following facial impact.

A fatal dissecting aneurysm of the internal carotid artery occurred in a 16-year-old male following facial impact in an automobile accident. The patient showed no neurologic deficit until two days after the automobile accident, when he suddenly started having seizures and developed right-sided hemiparesis. There was no evidence of direct trauma to the neck externally or internally. The only injuries observed in the head and face were two skin lacerations in the chin area. His condition rapidly deteriorated, and he expired on the fourth hospital day. The gross and microscopic findings for the internal carotid artery are presented. The possible mechanisms for the vascular lesion and a review of the literature are discussed.     

Sudden death due to delayed rupture of hepatic subcapsular hematoma following blunt abdominal trauma

Blunt abdominal trauma can cause sudden, unexpected death due to injuries to internal organs. Rupture of a hepatic subcapsular hematoma is a relatively rare cause of sudden death following minor blunt abdominal trauma. Death may be delayed several days to weeks. The autopsy is an invaluable diagnostic tool that can be utilized to uncover sudden deaths due to abdominal trauma. The case of an alcoholic who died of a ruptured hepatic subcapsular hematoma is presented. The death investigation revealed that the victim had sustained blunt abdominal trauma during a fall a few days prior to death.     

Establishing the cause of death in finding a corpse on a flight of stairs

A total of 793 forensic medical conclusions concerning corpses found in vestibules are analyzed. The circumstances of death were unknown in the majority of cases. Causes other than injuries were responsible for the majority (72.4%) of deaths: coronary diseases, hanging, alcohol intoxication, or general hypothermia. Strikes with blunt objects and falling on the staircase or floor rank second among causes of death. Injuries caused by falling from staircase and cases with this cause suspected were responsible for 9.6% deaths. Murders with acute objects and guns were recorded in 6% cases. For facilitating differential diagnosis, a list of signs and injuries occurring as a result of falling from staircase and main causes of death in such injuries, made with consideration for the place where the corpses are found, is offered.     

Investigative and autopsy findings in sport aircraft-related deaths in southwest Florida

Aircraft designated for sport or recreational use only, including ultralights, experimental aircraft and light-sport aircraft, have become increasingly popular. Because of their relative safety and the rarity of fatalities resulting from crashes of these aircraft, the forensic literature contains little information concerning the pathologic findings in such deaths. We report 9 deaths resulting from 6 sport aircraft crashes in southwest Florida, 6 pilots and 3 passengers. The vehicles involved 3 experimental aircraft, 1 ultralight and 2 "ultralight-like" aircraft. The patterns of injuries included trauma predominantly to the chest (3 cases), abdomen (1) or head (1), as well as multiple blunt force injuries involving the chest and abdomen (1) or the head and torso (3). Extremity fractures were found in only 2 cases, whereas injuries to the symphysis pubis were found in six. No "control-type" injuries were identified. These cases illustrate the varied pathologies associated with deaths due to crashes of sport aircraft and reveal the lack of uniformity associated with the investigations of such deaths.     

Amussat’s Sign in Hanging—A Prospective Autopsy Study

Abstract: Amussat’s sign is typically a transverse laceration of the intimal layer of carotid arteries described in cases of hanging. Subtotal laceration of the carotid artery is not strictly specific for hanging and can be also caused by blunt neck trauma, extreme overstretching, or whiplash‐injuries. In a prospective autopsy study of 178 cases of hanging, Amussat’s sign was found in 29 cases (a relative frequency of 16.1%). A statistically significant association between the occurrence of tears in the intimal layer of carotid arteries and the victims’ age was discovered in the cases studied (the frequency increased with age; p < 0.05). The occurrence of Amussat’s sign was independent of gender, weight, completeness of the victim’s body suspension, and position of the ligature knot on the neck. The study demonstrates the fact that the most probable cause of Amussat’s sign is a combination of direct compression of the artery by the rope and indirect stretching because of the gravitational drag produced by the weight of the body.