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Biomedical subjects

S M Claydon

Publications and source records attributed to S M Claydon.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Fatal extradural hemorrhage following a fall from a baby bouncer.

Prevention of infant deaths from accidental falls from baby equipment requires the maintaining of safety standards and adequate supervision of the infant. Mason in 1989 stated that those under one year old are usually injured because they are left unattended in, for example, bouncing cradles or baby walkers. Severe accidental head injury is relatively uncommon in children under two years of age, and in those patients less than one year of age, accidental injury is 10 to 15 times more common than nonaccidental injury. Gallagher et al. state that falls are the most common cause of accidental injury to the head in children under two years of age (mainly on stairs), whereas falls in older children tend to cause limb injuries. Both falls and burns are well documented with regard to the baby walker, but the author has found no reference to injuries from baby bouncers. This case proves that it is not necessary for a child to fall from a great height to sustain a life-threatening head injury. This infant's head was only about two feet from the ground, and he landed on a thick carpet. Pivoting about the central point provided by the seat of the bouncer obviously increased the momentum of the head before it struck the ground and so the injury was more severe than a straightforward fall back from his own height to the ground. However, it is important to be aware that serious head injuries can result from apparently minor falls. It is hoped that this case will highlight the dangers that do exist when using the baby bouncer, especially if the equipment is worn and adult supervision is absent.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1993

The high risk autopsy. Recognition and protection.

The high-risk autopsy is defined as postmortem examination of a deceased person who has had, or is likely to have had, a serious infectious disease that can be transmitted to those present at the autopsy, thereby causing them serious illness and/or premature death. In this article, particular attention is paid to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B infections, as these are diseases that are currently of concern among mortuary workers. Recognition of risk factors and incidence of cross-infection in the mortuary as well as various recommendations for preventive measures are discussed. The need for high-risk autopsies, both to further research into these infections and to assist the police in cases of suspicious death, is stressed.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1993

Internal carotid artery thrombosis following manual strangulation.

Thrombosis of the internal carotid artery is an unusual complication of neck compression, and even more infrequently observed in manual strangulation. It is important in such cases to exclude spontaneous thrombosis which may result from atherosclerotic narrowing of the vessel.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

A bolt from the blue.

The crossbow was one of the most efficient military weapons of the Middle Ages but the development of portable firearms meant that it was eventually relegated to the museum shelf. The medieval crossbow was accurate and deadly but took some time to load because of the windlass used to wind the string, thus increasing the velocity and range of the bolt, or quarrel. By contrast, the English longbows of Crecy and Agincourt were far less accurate but could fire six arrows in the time taken to shoot one bolt and the continual raining-down of missiles proved more successful in battle than accuracy of aim. This paper describes the homicide of a young business woman outside her London flat in 1987. Today crossbow fatalities are extremely rare on both sides of the Atlantic but Dr Siva described a case of suicide in 1979 and Professor Gresham presented a case of crossbow homicide to the BAFM in June 1976.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a continuing cause of sudden and unexpected death in west London.

AIMS: To describe the pathological and background features of several cases of tuberculosis diagnosed at post mortem examinations and performed on behalf of HM Coroner over a three year period in west London. METHODS: Postmortem examinations were carried out by two pathologists working at hospital and public mortuaries in west London. Cases of tuberculosis were provisionally diagnosed on gross examination and the diagnosis confirmed on haematoxylin and eosin and Ziehl-Neelsen staining of retained tissues. The background information was obtained by scrutinising hospital records and by direct enquiry to general practitioners by coroners' officers. RESULTS: Thirteen cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were diagnosed during the period. No other cause of death was found. The incidence of fatal pulmonary tuberculosis was 0.28% of coroners' necropsies in the study region. Cases had been referred to the coroner because death had occurred unexpectedly, or because no recent medical attention had been sought. Most cases arose among the elderly Asian immigrant population or the homeless or the alcoholic, or both. In 10 cases the macroscopic findings strongly indicated pulmonary tuberculosis and in the other three the diagnosis was considered to be a differential diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings have important health implications for those carrying out post mortem examinations from these groups as well as for those involved with the continuing care of immigrant or vagrant populations.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Suicidal strangulation by ligature: three case reports.

Self-strangulation by ligature is distinctly uncommon. It is distinct from self-suspension in cases of hanging, the latter being a far more common form of suicide. Self-strangulation must be separated from homicidal strangulation and from accidental sexual asphyxia. The ligature in suicidal strangulation may be knotted or tightened like a tourniquet. As the ligature is tightened the face and neck may become congested due to slow venous compression. Laryngeal fractures are rare and injuries are mild and often confined to the single ligature mark around the neck. The three cases discussed here were initially treated by the police as suspicious. Detailed examination of the scene and of the deceased person, along with investigation of the circumstances leading to the death, produced clear verdicts of suicide in all three cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Myocarditis as an incidental finding in young men dying from unnatural causes.

Histological examination of the heart in a murder victim revealed florid myocarditis as an incidental finding. Subsequent examination of the heart in 27 further cases of unnatural death in young men aged 15-25 years revealed three more cases of myocarditis. In none of these four cases was the myocarditis thought to have caused or contributed to death.

Accidents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Drug addict deaths in north and west London and prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B infection.

In a survey of 176 drug addict deaths occurring from 1987 to 1992 inclusive, in North and West London, nine were HIV positive, eight were hepatitis B positive, and two were positive for both infections; 63% were injectors. Of the 176 deaths, 115 were directly related to drug poisoning, 38 were due to complications of drug ingestion and 23 were from unrelated causes. No increase in the incidence of suicide was observed in addicts who knew that they were HIV positive.

Adolescent↗