Motor Vehicle Occupants,Neck Injuries,and Seat Belt Utilization: A 5‐Year Study of Fatalities in New York City

Abstract: Despite the implementation of numerous safety devices in automobiles, vehicular occupant fatalities following collisions remain common. We reviewed all fatalities of vehicular occupants in New York City over a 5‐year period on whom autopsies were performed (437) to determine the incidence of neck injuries and correlate them with seat belt utilization; 26.5% had neck injuries (mild to severe) and only 10.3% of these occupants were confirmed to be wearing seatbelts. Of those that had documentation of seat belt utilization there were twice as many neck injuries in the unbelted group. We highlight two cases of submarining with severe neck injuries that were related to automatic 2‐point shoulder harness restraints without engagement of the lap belt.     

颅脑损伤后动态姿势平衡评估

目的探讨颅脑损伤后平衡功能障碍的特点和原因。方法对95例交通事故致颅脑损伤的患者进行动态姿势图检查,将其测试结果与正常值比较;并按照原发颅脑损伤程度和是否伴有听力障碍对患者进行分组,将测试结果进行组间比较。结果颅脑损伤患者平衡总分较正常值低,对视觉和前庭觉等信息的利用能力下降,以前庭觉下降明显;原发颅脑损伤的严重程度以及是否伴听力下降对姿势稳定性无明显影响。结论不伴有肢体功能障碍的颅脑损伤患者的姿势稳定性差,对环境的反应与适应能力下降,可能与外周前庭器官及平衡中枢的损伤有关。     

脑外伤所致精神障碍伤残鉴定时机

目的研究脑外伤所致精神障碍伤残相对合理准确的最佳鉴定时机。方法对93例交通事故脑外伤所致精神障碍患者进行伤残鉴定及随访调查,在伤后不同时间段（3、6、9、12月）分别收集患者颅脑影像学、脑电图及详细病史资料,并对患者家属进行调查和对患者进行精神检查及智力量表（Wechsler Intellegence Scale for Adult,WAIS）、社会功能缺陷筛选量表（Social Disability Screening Schedule,SDSS）和日常生活能力量表（Activity of Daily Living Scale,ADL）测验,据此进行诊断及评残。结果ADL、SDSS对不同等级伤残及不同时间段区分良好,整体样本显示患者ADL、SDSS平均值9月与12月无差别。轻度伤残ADL、SDSS平均值6、9、12月无差别,中度伤残ADL、SDSS平均值9月与12月无差别,重度伤残ADL平均值6、9、12月无差别。结论脑外伤所致精神障碍伤残鉴定轻度伤残以伤后6个月评定为宜,中度伤残以伤后9个月评定为宜,重度伤残统计结论显示评残时机为伤后6个月,但综合分析认为重度伤残以伤后9个月评定为宜。     

An Assessment of Judges’ Self‐Reported Experiences of Secondary Traumatic Stress

Many judges experience occupation‐specific stress, such as secondary traumatic stress (STS), burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious traumatization. A content analysis of 762 judges’ open‐ended responses to a survey asking whether they had suffered from STS revealed that judges moderately experienced most types of stress. Some case types (e.g., family court) and some job aspects (e.g., gruesome evidence) were particularly stressful. Judges reported both positive (e.g., social support) and negative (e.g., distractions) coping mechanisms. Interventions should be tailored to judges’ characteristics, (e.g., gender), job (e.g., family court), beliefs (e.g., that STS does not exist), and level of distress.     

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Pathology After Shotgun Injury to the Brain

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) was initially conceptualized in boxers, but has extended to other athletes in recent years, albeit with limited clinical correlations. It is often asserted that CTE pathology represents the substrate for progressive neurodegenerative disease. We report the case of a shotgun injury to the brain with 42‐year survival and no neurological disease progression until shortly before death. The decedent had no other traumatic brain injury (TBI) exposure and did not play football or other high energy collision sport. Neuropathological examination confirmed tissue damage, but additionally demonstrated localized patterns of phosphorylated tau (p‐tau) meeting criteria for CTE pathology. P‐tau and TDP‐43 deposits within marginal tissue of damaged brain were also present focally. No amyloid‐β (Aβ) deposits were present. These findings indicate that CTE pathology may occur following a single, severe TBI.     

A Fatal Mediastinitis Due to a Neck Trauma from an Undeclared Assault

History of neck trauma should be promptly investigated in patients with severe infections of the chest as mediastinitis. We present a forensic case of a death due to a mediastinitis in a patient with an undetected fracture of the superior horn of the thyroid cartilage that was exclusively revealed at autopsy examination. Histological analyses of the neck tissues showed signs of pharyngeal mucosal microperforation caused by the fracture and surrounded by an inflammatory reaction. The fracture was caused by a not declared manual strangulation attempt, happened several days before medical evaluations. We share our experience to emphasize the importance of revealing the etiologies of fatal infections of the mediastinum both for clinical and forensic purposes.     

A Retrospective Study of Intentional Body Dismemberment in New York City: 1996–2017

A review of New York City dismemberment cases occurring between 1996 and 2017 was conducted, which resulted in a total of 55 dismembered decedents in a 22‐year period. Annual trends indicate an average of 2.5 dismembered decedents. Additional results show that 53% of cases involved transection only, 35% involved disarticulation only, and 13% involved a combination of both. When the entire body could be accounted for, the average number of body portions per case was 5.5. Frequent locations for dismemberment were the neck, shoulders, hips, and knees. Dismemberment locations showed a general trend of anatomical symmetry. Seventy‐eight percent of the dismemberments involve disposal of body parts in an outside location. Eighty‐four percent were concealed from view with some type of covering. The findings from New York City are compared with other studies.     

Does caregiver abuse history relate to caregiver focus,support, and attendance at follow-up sessions in a child advocacy setting?

Utilizing quantitative and qualitative clinical service data collected at a Child Advocacy Center, the present study investigated whether caregiver history (history of childhood abuse or adult victimization, mental health treatment history) was associated with caregiver focus and attendance at a scheduled follow-up appointment. Results of mixed method analyses indicated that caregiver history of abuse was positively associated with caregivers being supportive/protective. Other than a history of prior service-related problems, our study did not identify any predictors of attendance at follow-up sessions. This and other findings are discussed in the context of engaging caregivers in child welfare services.     

Head banging as a form of self-harm among inpatients within forensic mental health and intellectual disability services

Introduction: ‘Head banging’ is a common form of self-harm, linked to numerous negative outcomes including significant brain damage. However, little research has investigated head banging behaviour and its correlates in clinical populations. Method: Head banging episodes were identified from the incident records (n = 5417) of two inpatient forensic services (one intellectual disability and one mental health), using relevant search terms. Rates were compared between individual patients, by gender, diagnosis and level of security. Incident accounts were analysed qualitatively using thematic analysis. Results: Head banging incidents occurred approximately every 3 days in each service, with 229 incidents recorded in 1 year. Individual patient rates varied widely, ranging from 1 to 38 incidents within 1 year. Women, and patients in higher levels of therapeutic security, were significantly more likely to engage in head banging. Qualitative incident reports indicated that head banging was associated with mental distress, anger and psychotic experiences. Discussion: Head banging occurs frequently in forensic services, and has documented associations with traumatic brain injury in affected individuals, thus negatively impacting progress through the care pathway and treatment outcomes. Further research should investigate short- and long-term management strategies and treatment approaches, in order to minimise harm.     

Skeletal Trauma Resulting From Fatal Low (≤3 m) Free Falls: An Analysis of Fracture Patterns and Morphologies

The skeletal trauma resulting from fatal low (≤3 m) free falls is poorly researched and understood by forensic practitioners. The aim of this study was to identify the types of skeletal trauma resulting from low falls through investigating fracture patterns and morphologies. Skeletal trauma was analyzed using full‐body postmortem computed tomography scans of 145 individuals who died from a low free fall. Trauma was then contextualized to the variables that influence how a person falls using multiple logistic regression. Results showed fracture patterning primarily involved the axial skeleton and that there were a number of patterns significantly associated with the height fallen, pre‐existing health conditions, and age. Analysis of fracture morphologies showed 108 possible fracture types, six of which were significantly associated with the height fallen. Understanding the skeletal trauma characteristic of low free falls will further inform anthropological interpretations of trauma in cases where a fall may be considered the possible mechanism.