A proposed dissection procedure for vertebral arteries in forensic pathology

Vertebral artery removing constitutes a significant forensic pathology challenge. Dissection techniques during head-neck autopsy are based on anterior approach, a difficult method, which is unable to assess the transverse part of the artery. This work presents an original and simple method for dissecting vertebral arteries by a posterior approach, opening the vertebroarterial canal through the spinal canal without any special equipment. Once the spinal cord is removed, the transversarium foramens are opened by an internal cut at the pedicle and an external cut at the transverse process. This enables us to visualize vertebral arteries in its entirety. The method improves both the examination of the upper extracranial segment of the vertebral artery and the neuropathological study when arterial injury is suspected. Applying this method routinely is both feasible and useful in suspected cases of vertebral artery trauma and could contribute to assess more precisely the actual incidence of this injury.     

Body Transportation after Homicides: Offender and Offense Characteristics

Body transportation is defined as moving the body of the victim from the scene of a homicide to another location. We analyzed data on 513 South Korean homicide cases with convictions to compare 104 homicides involving the transportation of victims’ bodies with 409 homicides that did not. Offenders who transported their victims’ bodies were significantly younger and more likely to be related to the victims and were less likely to use sharp instruments and more likely to use blunt instruments or strangle the victims than offenders who did not. Victims of homicide involving body transportation were more likely to suffer injuries to the neck and head and less likely to suffer injuries to the torso. Finally, offenders who transported victims’ bodies were more likely to have planned the offense and destroyed evidence. The present findings have practical implications for police investigations.     

两种推拿手法治疗非肿块型肌性斜颈疗效比较

目的 观察君、臣、佐、使配伍推拿方法即揉推"颈部五线"联合抻颈肌、轻点穴治疗非肿块型肌性斜颈的临床疗效.方法 将71例非肿块型肌性斜颈患儿随机分为对照组(35例)和治疗组(36例),对照组采取传统推拿治疗,治疗组在此基础上结合原治疗经验增减,即以揉推"颈部五线"为君,以增加抻颈肌时间为臣,以轻点体穴为佐使.在治疗前,治疗3、6周后评定患儿颈部歪斜角度和颈部被动关节活动度,比较两组疗效.结果 与治疗前比较,两组治疗3、6周患侧旋转角度和健侧侧屈角度均显著增加(P<0.05),颈部歪斜角度均显著减小(P<0.05);治疗组侧旋转角度和健侧侧屈角度均显著大于对照组(P<0.05),颈部歪斜角度显著小于对照组(P<0.05).治疗组疗效优于对照组(P<0.05).结论 运用君、臣、佐、使配伍推拿方法治疗非肿块型肌性斜颈,对改善患儿颈部歪斜角度、颈部被动关节活动度效果确切,整体疗效优于传统推拿手法.     

Unusual Elevator-Related Deaths: A Report of Two Cases

We present two cases of elevator-related deaths that occurred in two different elevators, and deaths were caused by a similar, but unusual, mechanism. An elevator is a platform or compartment housed in a shaft for raising and lowering people or things to different levels. Elevator-related deaths and injuries are rarely reported in the literature. In most of these cases, cause of death was attributed to falls. It seems that most of the elevator accidents may be attributed to factors related to device maintenance inadequacies or even to device malfunctioning. In our cases, both elevator cars were not equipped with full-length inner doors, thus allowing both accidents to occur. Since 2014, the European Union adopted a relative directive, which imposes the need to equip all elevators with such full-length doors. The enforcement of the above-mentioned EU Directive is crucial, in order to prevent similar accidents in the future.     

43例心脏外科手术后死亡医疗纠纷法医学分析

目的 探究心脏外科手术后死亡引起医疗纠纷的原因及特点,重点分析心脏外科手术后病理改变及法医学解剖要点,为心脏外科手术临床诊治及司法鉴定提供病理学证据,为此类案件医疗纠纷防范提供参考.方法 收集中山大学法医鉴定中心2013—2018年受理的心脏外科手术后死亡引发医疗纠纷的法医病理学案件,从死亡原因、病理诊断、手术情况和医...     

股骨颈骨折法医学鉴定的回顾性研究

目的 探讨股骨颈骨折后股骨头坏死的相关因素。方法 对69例股骨颈骨折的鉴定资料进行回顾性研究。结果69例股骨颈骨折的伤者,伤后4年内发生股骨头缺血坏死的21例,其中1～3年内发生缺血坏死者18例。根据股骨颈骨折的Garden分型,Ⅲ型股骨颈骨折后发生股骨头缺血坏死者9例,Ⅳ型11例,Ⅱ型1例。根据复位后的Garden指数分组,B组股骨颈骨折后发生股骨头缺血坏死者11例,A、C组各5例。结论 股骨颈骨折后股骨头坏死与股骨颈骨折的原始移位程度和骨折的复位质量(对位、对线情况)有关。     

Retrospective Analysis of Hanging Deaths in Ontario

Hanging deaths from investigation standpoint are rarely problematic. Unusual circumstances can on occasion raise suspicion of foul play. Associated neck injuries are reported in the literature with variable frequency (from 0% to 76.8%). This study retrospectively analyzed 755 hanging deaths in Ontario (Canada) to evaluate the demographic features and circumstances of hanging fatalities, and the frequency of hanging‐related neck injuries. A number of cases showed unusual/special circumstances (e.g., complex, double suicides, restraints). Among 632 cases with complete autopsies, hyoid and larynx fractures were present in 46 cases (7.3%) with the most common being isolated hyoid fractures. The incidence of cricoid fractures was 0.5% and cervical spine injuries, 1.1%. A higher incidence of neck injuries occurred among males, long drop hangings, and in cases with complete suspension. There was a tendency for the number of fractures to increase with increasing age and weight of the deceased.     

A meta-analytic review of the frequency and patterning of laryngohyoid and cervical fractures in cases of suicide by hanging

The frequency and distribution of fractures are commonly utilized to assist in interpreting the manner of death. In cases of alleged suicide by hanging, however, the evidence base for the frequency and patterning of laryngohyoid and cervical vertebrae fractures resulting from such blunt force traumatic events is limited and so fractures cannot be reliably used to assist in interpreting the manner. Using meta-analytic techniques, this study aimed to estimate frequency and distribution of fractures in the context of relevant intrinsic and extrinsic variables. A systematic review of the literature identified 20 studies with relevant data (8523 cases of suicide by hanging). Meta-analyses identified the frequency and distribution of fractures present and how fracture frequency was affected by the subgroups of age, sex, completeness of suspension, ligature knot position and study design. Results indicated that fracture frequency was variable, there was no unique patterning, and high levels of heterogeneity were present in all variable sub-groups. Age was the only subgroup to show differences. Findings suggest that neck fracture frequency is inconsistent and cannot be predicted by the chosen variables. Subsequently, neck fractures in isolation should not be given weight in medico-legal interpretations of a hanging death as suicidal.     

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.     

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.