A Study of Gross Postmortem Findings in Cases of Hanging and Ligature Strangulation

This present study was performed on cases of death due to compression of neck by ligature material due to hanging and strangulation brought for post-mortem examination at mortuary of Sir Takhtasinhji General Hospital and Govt. Medical College, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India during January 2011 to December 2011. A total of 1044 post-mortem examinations were conducted, out of which 90 cases were of compressed neck by ligature. Out of them 86 cases were of hanging and 4 cases were of ligature strangulation. We observed that dribbling of saliva was present in some cases of hanging but not present in any case of ligature strangulation. Similarly fracture of hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage were present in cases of hanging while not present in any case of ligature strangulation. Larynx, trachea and cervical vertebra were not fractured in any case of hanging and ligature strangulation. All cases of hanging were suicidal while three cases of ligature strangulation were homicidal and one case was accidental.