摘要:

The use of the hogtie restraint (also known as hobble or prone maximal restraint) by law enforcement and prehospital personnel has come under scrutiny because of reports of sudden deaths in persons placed in this restraint position. Some contend that this body position restricts chest and abdominal movement to the point that individuals are at risk for hypoventilatory respiratory compromise and "positional" asphyxiation. We review case reports of custody deaths in subjects placed in the hogtie position, as well as related medical literature regarding positional asphyxia. We also review the current research findings from human physiology studies that have investigated the effects of the hogtie position on respiratory and pulmonary function. We conclude that the hogtie restraint position by itself does not cause respiratory compromise to the point of asphyxiation and that other factors are responsible for the sudden deaths of individuals placed in this position.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Vertebral artery trauma is not commonly seen by forensic pathologists. The experience of vertebral artery trauma at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (30 cases) is summarized and reviewed in the light of the literature. Causes of vertebral artery trauma are discussed. In case 1, the history and timing of the injury raise the question as to whether the vertebral artery dissection occurred before the episode of trauma, that is, was spontaneous or resulted from trauma. Moreover, underlying vertebral artery disease was present, raising the question as to how much trauma was needed to cause vertebral artery dissection. In case 2, despite the history of head/neck trauma, a neurosurgeon considered the subarachnoid hemorrhage was spontaneous, due most likely to ruptured saccular aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation. In case 3, the vertebral artery rupture was not diagnosed in the setting of multiple injuries. Case 4 is an example of prolonged survival with delayed onset of symptoms following vertebral artery trauma. Case 5 is an example of the not uncommon scenario of homicidal vertebral artery trauma accounting for basal subarachnoid hemorrhage, rapid collapse and death. Cases 1 and 4 indicate that relatively normal activity may be possible following vertebral artery trauma in some cases (at least for a time). Cases 1 and 4 are also examples of intracranial vertebral artery dissection.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

We report the case of a 3.5-year-old front seat passenger who suffered significant head and neck injuries as a result of air bag deployment in a collision of <30 mph. These lesions included multiple abrasions of the lower half of the face, nose, forehead, and right ear, torn frenula, conjunctival petechiae, comminuted fractures of the left and right lateral frontal regions and right parietal bone, diastatic fracture of the coronal suture, subgaleal and subarachnoid hemorrhages, cortical contusions, subluxation of the atlantooccipital joint, and fracture of the C4 vertebral body. These lesions are consistent with trauma secondary to the deploying air bag and the head striking the interior of the car. The findings in this case further support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines of keeping children properly restrained, preferably in the back seat, or as far as possible from air bags.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

To investigate the possible causes of unexplained hemorrhage into the neck musculature in deaths due to drowning, all cases of drowning between the years 1985 and 1995 examined by members of the Department of Forensic Pathology, University of Sheffield were reviewed. Cases were selected in which hemorrhage was found within the neck musculature but in which no apparent explanation for the hemorrhage, such as compression of the neck or trauma, was present. Eight cases were identified from a total of 99 deaths from drowning. Postmortem hypostasis was distributed in the back or diffusely in 6 cases and in the face in 3 cases. The degree of decomposition varied but was severe in only 1 case. A raised blood alcohol level was detected in 3 cases. Anterior neck compartment hemorrhage is probably due to hypostasis in a high proportion of cases. The Prinsloo and Gordon artifact may be an operative factor in at least some cases. Hemorrhage may result from violent neck movements during the process of drowning. Apparent "bruising" of the neck musculature does not always indicate compression of or trauma to the neck.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Rubber and plastic bullets or batons have been used in countries outside the United States for several years. These devices were designed to inflict nonlethal force in riot control. The authors report a case of fatal injury sustained by an elderly woman struck in the chest by a plastic baton, including the circumstances surrounding this unusual incident, the autopsy findings and a review of the literature.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Intermediate targets becoming secondary projectiles in gunshot wounds is a well recognized phenomenon. Secondary projectiles usually possess a fraction of the kinetic energy compared to the primary projectile, leading to superficial wounds of skin and soft tissue. We describe the case of a foreign object that was propelled by the primary bullet with sufficient energy to penetrate not only skin and soft tissue, but also temporal skull and brain. The report also examines the energy requirements for an object to penetrate bone and unique radiographic findings.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

A forensic science program has been developed to assist the professional community population in using a scientific approach in the investigation of criminal offenses. The science of medicine and the principles of the law come together to form a multidisciplinary group of professionals to instruct in the collection of evidence after a crime has been committed. Specialists in these areas include forensic pathologists, forensic anthropologists, forensic odontologists, entomologists, and a radiologist with a specialty in forensics. No longer can educators ignore the necessity of community involvement in the apprehension and prosecution of the perpetrators of crime. This program is the first to offer basic forensic science courses to professionals in a variety of related fields.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Twenty autopsy reports, comprising 1 fall, 1 cutting, 1 burn, 1 drowning, 1 strangulation, 3 gunshot wound, and 13 traffic fatalities, were scored by the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and the Injury Severity Score (ISS). The codes were adequate for wounds of skin and long bones, and for most wounds of viscera. The autopsy descriptions were more detailed than the coding criteria for craniocerebral, cervicovertebral and muscular trauma, and less detailed for thoracoabdominal visceral, and long bone trauma. Lung contusions and rib fractures received scores that seemed unduly high, possibly reflecting the greater sensitivity of autopsy diagnosis over clinical diagnosis for these lesions. Complete hinge fractures of the skull base scored 4 (severe), which does not reflect the almost universally lethal nature of the accompanying cerebral concussion, which was itself not codeable. AIS scores were low and did not seem to reflect the lethal outcome when the lethal mechanism was purely physiologic and without a striking morphologic derangement, as in instances of cerebral or cardiac concussion, compression of the neck, occlusive airway hemorrhage, and visceral herniation into an adjacent body cavity. The scores were similarly low when therapy was delayed or adverse. Low AIS and ISS scores in a fatality from blunt or penetrating trauma may be useful retrospective clues to the presence of purely physiologic death mechanisms or therapeutic problems.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

A case of sudden death in a 14-year-old girl due to self administration of hair conditioner through an intravenous infusion pump is described. This report demonstrates difficulties that may occur in determining the manner of death in such cases and outlines a specific danger that may occur when adolescents have unsupervised access to intravenous infusion equipment.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID