In some rare cases of hanging, the so-called ‘hangman’s fracture’ is observed. This occurs when a fall from height is associated with hanging, e.g. capital executions. We describe the case of an 81-year-old man who committed suicide by jumping off a bridge, with a rope wrapped around his neck. The combination of hanging and falling caused a series of bone fractures to the cervical spine and the hyoid bone, leading to dislocation of the vertebral column and multiple bone fragments, producing peculiar patterns. Computed tomography also identified a transverse full-thickness fracture of the dens, which is a rare event. This case highlights specific injuries associated with the combination of hanging and falling, and underlines the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in terms of radiological examination and complete autopsy.
Complex fracture patterns in hanging associated with a fall from height / Amadasi A.; Buschmann C.T.; Tsokos M.. - In: FORENSIC SCIENCE, MEDICINE AND PATHOLOGY. - ISSN 1547-769X. - ELETTRONICO. - 16:2(2020), pp. 359-361. [10.1007/s12024-019-00210-6]
Complex fracture patterns in hanging associated with a fall from height
Amadasi A.
Primo
;
2020
Abstract
In some rare cases of hanging, the so-called ‘hangman’s fracture’ is observed. This occurs when a fall from height is associated with hanging, e.g. capital executions. We describe the case of an 81-year-old man who committed suicide by jumping off a bridge, with a rope wrapped around his neck. The combination of hanging and falling caused a series of bone fractures to the cervical spine and the hyoid bone, leading to dislocation of the vertebral column and multiple bone fragments, producing peculiar patterns. Computed tomography also identified a transverse full-thickness fracture of the dens, which is a rare event. This case highlights specific injuries associated with the combination of hanging and falling, and underlines the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in terms of radiological examination and complete autopsy.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.