Can MRI of the neck compete with clinical findings in assessing danger to life for survivors of manual strangulation? A statistical analysis

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• 作者：Andreas Christe ; Lars Oesterhelweg ; Steffen Ross ; Danny Spendlove ; Stephan Bolliger ; Peter Vock ; Michael J. Thali
• 关键词：Life-threatening strangulation ; MRI findings of the neck ; Survivors of strangulation ; Clinical findings of strangulation
• 刊名：Legal Medicine
• 出版年：2010
• 出版时间：September 2010
• 年：2010
• 卷：12
• 期：5
• 页码：228-232
• 全文大小：263 K

文摘

Objective

The aim of the study was to examine the clinical forensic findings of strangulation according to their ability to differentiate between life-threatening and non-life-threatening strangulation, compare clinical and MRI findings of the neck and discuss a simple score for life-threatening strangulation (SLS).

Materials and methods

Forensic pathologists classified a continuous sample of 56 survivors of strangulation into life-threatening cases by clinical history and examination alone. Subjective, objective and radiological signs were evaluated for discriminating the two groups.

Results

In 27 % of the cases life was in danger. The most significant signs of danger to life were congestive petechial hemorrhage in the face (eyes); hematoma of the neck and loss of consciousness. The radiological score could compete with the clinical scores.

Conclusion

Clinical forensic findings differ significantly in non-life-threatening and life-threatening manual strangulation. Thanks to MRI a rather objective test for life-threatening strangulation can be added to a SLS.