title: Incidence of typical and atypical hanging among 66 hanging cases.
abstract: Present Study conducted prospectively to find out the position of knot in the neck in all hanging cases coming for post mortem examination at Mymensingh Medical College Mortuary in the year 2005. Hanging is a process in which the body is suspended with a ligature around the neck, which causes constriction of air passage preventing exchange of air between atmosphere & alveoli of lungs, leading to asphyxia & death. The constriction force is either the weight of the whole body or the weight of the head alone. A weight of 2Kg is sufficient for death in hanging. According to position of knot hanging is of two types-Typical hanging and Atypical hanging. In typical hanging the knot of the ligature should be at the nape of the neck and the knot of the ligature at any site other than the nape of the neck is Atypical hanging. A total of 557 postmortems were conducted in the year 2005 out of which 66 cases were of hanging. Among these, 66 cases (100%) position of knot on neck were on center of occiput (Typical hanging) in 14 cases (21.21%), on right side in 17 cases (25.75%), on left side in 21 cases (31.81%) and on front of neck in 14 cases (21.21%). Total of 52 cases are of Atypical hanging. This study suggests that Atypical hanging is more common (78.78%) than Typical hanging (21.21%) and more on left side of the neck (31.81%). Study at S.P. Medical College and A.G Hospitals, Bikaner in 2004 shows that out of 390 cases 35 (8.97%) were of hanging. Amongst those 35 cases in 33 cases position of knot on nape of the neck in 5 cases (15.15%), right side of neck 15 cases (45.45%), left side of neck in 11 cases (33.33%) and front of the neck 2 cases (6%). In their study, Typical hanging was found in 15.15% and Atypical hanging was in 84.85%; and Maximum on right side of the neck i.e. 45.45%. In both the studies Atypical hanging was more common but Maximum was on right side in their study and We found maximum on left side.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Talukder
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mansur
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kadir
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000402:Airway Obstruction; D001237:Asphyxia; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D002102:Cadaver; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*