Ear bleeding: A sign not to be underestimated in cases of strangulation.
Otorrhagia is commonly associated with cranial trauma and diving accidents. In some forensic manuals, bleeding in the ears is anecdotally associated with strangulation. We report 2 cases of criminal strangulation with hemotympanum and otorrhagia, emphasizing the importance of this sign with strangulation. We present the proposed pathophysiology of the injuries and the value of otoscopic evaluation to complete the external examination in forensic cases suspicious for strangulation.
Duband
Sébastien
S
Department of Pathology, Saint-Etienne University Hospital Center, Bellevue Hospital, France. sebastien.duband@chu-st-etienne.fr
Timoshenko
Andréi P
AP
Morrison
Alan L
AL
Prades
Jean-Michel
JM
Debout
Michel
M
Peoc'h
Michel
M
D001237:Asphyxia / Q000473:pathology*; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006406:Hematoma / Q000473:pathology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology*; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D038781:Otoscopy; D011693:Purpura / Q000473:pathology; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000473:pathology*