Ten Year Autopsy Study of Differentiating Features Between Hanging and Strangulation

Abstract

Introduction: Hanging is that form of asphyxia which is caused by the suspension of the body by a ligature
which encircles the neck, the constricting force being the weight of the body, or part of body weight.
Strangulation is a form of death caused by constricting the neck by some means other than body weight. The
means used may be ligature (ligature strangulation), human hand (throttling or manual strangulation), elbow
(mugging), or some hard subject such as stick (bansdola).
Aims and Objectives: To study the differentiating aspect between Hanging and Strangulation, with
respect to type of ligature material and its position, external and internal finding of neck and changes in the
subcutaneous tissue of neck.
Results: Hanging amounted for 50.37% cases while strangulation was 17.20% cases among the violent
asphyxial deaths. Clothes (65.45%) were most common ligature material both in hanging and strangulation
as well. Position of ligature was above the level of thyroid in 95.12% cases while in strangulation the
position of ligature was at level of thyroid in most of the cases (45.71%). Associated injuries are present in
51.43% cases of strangulation. Subcutaneous tissue is white glistening in most of hanging cases (76.58%)
while contused in most of strangulation (82.86%) cases.
Conclusion and Suggestions: It is suggested that in the interest of justice to avoid confusion, in all cases of
violent asphyxial deaths, the post-mortem examination should be conducted by the Forensic experts only.
Police personals should also be given training that they should not cut the ligature material and remove
ligature material before post-mortem examination so that easy differentiation of hanging and strangulation
can be made.