Informatics Publishing Limited

Del Fante Z. ¹, Di Fazio N. ¹, Quattrocchi A. ¹, Fazio V. ¹, De Matteis A. ¹, Arcangeli M. ², La Russa R. ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Science, Sapienza University of Rome, IT
2 Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, IT
3 IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense 18, Pozzilli, 86077, IT

Abstract

Although asphyxia related-death is a common occurrence in forensic setting, traditional autopsy with neck dissection is not always sufficient to gain information about potential injuries of the deep structures of the neck. In this case a 40 years-old white female was found unresponsive on the floor of her living room, in supine position with a widespread brownish area on her neck. A preliminary PMCT examination showed a fracture line within the hyoid bone. This finding was confirmed by the autopsy, which revealed soft tissue’s haemorrhage of the sternocleidomastoid and sternohyoid muscles and a fracture of the right horn of the hyoid bone. A 3D reconstruction of the event showed the aggressor standing behind the victim while holding his arm around her neck. Our study demonstrates that, PMCT represent an effective aid to traditional examination techniques in order to visualize fractures. The former always requires to be associated with autoptic examination.

Keywords

asphyxia, CT, autopsy, legal medicine, forensic medicine

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