Laryngohyoid Fractures in Suicidal Hanging: A Prospective Autopsy Study with an Updated Review and Critical Appraisal

ZÁTOPKOVÁ, Lenka, Martin JANÍK, Petra URBANOVÁ, Jitka MOTTLOVÁ and Petr HEJNA. Laryngohyoid Fractures in Suicidal Hanging: A Prospective Autopsy Study with an Updated Review and Critical Appraisal. Forensic Science International. Elsevier Sequoia, 2018, vol. 290, September, p. 70-84. ISSN 0379-0738. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.05.043.

Basic information

Original name

Laryngohyoid Fractures in Suicidal Hanging: A Prospective Autopsy Study with an Updated Review and Critical Appraisal

Name in Czech

Laryngohyoid Fractures in Suicidal Hanging: A Prospective Autopsy Study with an Updated Review and Critical Appraisal

Authors

ZÁTOPKOVÁ, Lenka (203 Czech Republic), Martin JANÍK (703 Slovakia), Petra URBANOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Jitka MOTTLOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, guarantor) and Petr HEJNA (203 Czech Republic)

Edition

Forensic Science International, Elsevier Sequoia, 2018, 0379-0738

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Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

30500 3.5 Other medical sciences

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.990

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/18:00103135

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.05.043

UT WoS

000443355600020

Keywords (in Czech)

hanging; fracture; hyoid bone; thyroid cartilage; autopsy; contributing variables

Keywords in English

hanging; fracture; hyoid bone; thyroid cartilage; autopsy; contributing variables

Tags

rivok

Tags

International impact, Reviewed

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Abstract

V originále

Laryngohyoid fractures in hanging victims are one of the most studied and paradoxically contradictory topics in forensic pathology. According to literary sources, the incidence of laryngohyoid fractures in hanging varies significantly, from 0% to 100%. To verify the diagnostic significance of these injuries in hanging, we prospectively and consecutively analyzed the occurrence of laryngohyoid fractures in a group of 178 suicidal hanging victims (M/F = 150/28, aged 14-94 years, mean age = 50, complete suspension = 111 cases, partial suspension = 67 cases) in relation to selected variables (age, sex, weight, the completeness of body suspension, and ligature knot location). Altogether, we identified the following types of laryngohyoid fractures in 129 of 178 cases (72.5%): isolated fracture(s) to the thyroid cartilage in 60 cases (33.7%), combined thyrohyoid fractures in 41 cases (23.0%), isolated fracture(s) to the hyoid bone in 28 cases (15.7%), and no fractures to the cricoid cartilage or the cervical vertebrae. The highest frequency of laryngohyoid fractures was found in lateral hangings (right lateral: 26/34, 76.5%; left lateral: 31/37, 83.8%), whereas the lowest rate was found in anterior hangings (4/11, 36.4%). In lateral hangings, fractures more often occurred contralaterally to the suspension point. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations of the occurrence of laryngohyoid fractures with the age of the victim (p = 0.028), with the position of the ligature knot on the neck (p = 0.019) and with the age-corrected weight of the victim (p = 0.026). In addition, we performed a systematic updated review and critical appraisal of relevant literary sources to report the incidence, fracture patterns, and contributing variables of laryngohyoid injuries in hanging. Both the results of our study and the provided literary synthesis show that if evaluated properly, laryngohyoid fractures in hanging may diagnostically offer far more than just evidence that injury to the neck occurred and may also present rese

In Czech

Laryngohyoid fractures in hanging victims are one of the most studied and paradoxically contradictory topics in forensic pathology. According to literary sources, the incidence of laryngohyoid fractures in hanging varies significantly, from 0% to 100%. To verify the diagnostic significance of these injuries in hanging, we prospectively and consecutively analyzed the occurrence of laryngohyoid fractures in a group of 178 suicidal hanging victims (M/F = 150/28, aged 14-94 years, mean age = 50, complete suspension = 111 cases, partial suspension = 67 cases) in relation to selected variables (age, sex, weight, the completeness of body suspension, and ligature knot location). Altogether, we identified the following types of laryngohyoid fractures in 129 of 178 cases (72.5%): isolated fracture(s) to the thyroid cartilage in 60 cases (33.7%), combined thyrohyoid fractures in 41 cases (23.0%), isolated fracture(s) to the hyoid bone in 28 cases (15.7%), and no fractures to the cricoid cartilage or the cervical vertebrae. The highest frequency of laryngohyoid fractures was found in lateral hangings (right lateral: 26/34, 76.5%; left lateral: 31/37, 83.8%), whereas the lowest rate was found in anterior hangings (4/11, 36.4%). In lateral hangings, fractures more often occurred contralaterally to the suspension point. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations of the occurrence of laryngohyoid fractures with the age of the victim (p = 0.028), with the position of the ligature knot on the neck (p = 0.019) and with the age-corrected weight of the victim (p = 0.026). In addition, we performed a systematic updated review and critical appraisal of relevant literary sources to report the incidence, fracture patterns, and contributing variables of laryngohyoid injuries in hanging. Both the results of our study and the provided literary synthesis show that if evaluated properly, laryngohyoid fractures in hanging may diagnostically offer far more than just evidence that injury to the neck occurred and may also present rese