Pattern of Ligature Mark in Cases of Compressed Neck in Rajkot Region: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Ligature mark may be the only evidence available in cases of asphyxial deaths due to either hanging or strangulation.A through examination of the ligature mark and analysis of the information provided by it is therefore, a must to arrive at the most probable cause of death and differentiate between hanging and the ligature strangulation.A prospective study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine, P.D.U.Medical College & Hospital, Rajkot from January 2008 to December 2008.During that period out of 2159 cases, 90 cases of hanging and 7 cases of ligature strangulation were selected for the present study.We found that deaths due to hanging constituted 4.17% of the total unnatural deaths subjected to medicolegal autopsy; young adults of the age group 21 to 30 years accounted for the maximum cases 40% and the male: female ratio was 2:1.Chunni (34.44%) was the most common ligature material used.The mark was obliquely placed (100% cases) above thyroid cartilage (80% cases).In all the cases of ligature strangulation the mark was transverse and below the level of thyroid cartilage.