ABSTRACT

Aim: To assess the fractures of hyoid bone in cases of strangulation of neck at tertiary care hospital

Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at Department of Forensic Medicine, Jinnah Medical College, Peshawar from January 2019 to December 2019. Total 100 cases of neck strangulation either male or female having age 15 to 60 years were selected. Fracture of hyoid bone was assessed.

Results: Total 100 cases with strangulation of neck were selected for this study. Average age was 27.8±14.33 years. Out of 100 cases of strangulation of neck, hyoid bone was fractured in 14 (14%) cases while no fracture was found in 86 (86%) cases. Modalities of strangulation of neck as follows: garroting, hanging throttling was noted in 78 (78%) cases, 13 (13%) cases and 9 (9%) cases respectively.

Conclusion: Results of present study showed that hanging is the most common modality of strangulation of neck. Most of the cases belonged to urban areas. Higher number of cases found with poverty. Males were predominant and most of the cases belonged to 2nd and 3rd decade of life.

Keywords: Strangulation of neck, Garroting, Throttling, Fracture of hyoid bone