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Fracture of the hyoid bone in strangulation: comparison of fractured and unfractured hyoids from victims of strangulation.

The hyoid is the U-shaped bone of the neck that is fractured in one-third of all homicides by strangulation. On this basis, postmortem detection of hyoid fracture is relevant to the diagnosis of strangulation. However, since many cases lack a hyoid fracture, the absence of this finding does not exclude strangulation as a cause of death. The reasons why some hyoids fracture and others do not may relate to the nature and magnitude of force applied to the neck, age of the victim, nature of the instrument (ligature or hands) used to strangle, and intrinsic anatomic features of the hyoid bone. We compared the case profiles and xeroradiographic appearance of the hyoids of 20 victims of homicidal strangulation with and without hyoid fracture (n = 10, each). The fractured hyoids occurred in older victims of strangulation (39 +/- 14 years) when compared to the victims with unfractured hyoids (30 +/- 10 years). The age-dependency of hyoid fracture correlated with the degree of ossification or fusion of the hyoid synchondroses. The hyoid was fused in older victims of strangulation (41 +/- 12 years) whereas the unfused hyoids were found in the younger victims (28 +/- 10 years). In addition, the hyoid bone was ossified or fused in 70% of all fractured hyoids, but, only 30% of the unfractured hyoids were fused. The shape of the hyoid bone was also found to differentiate fractured and unfractured hyoids. Fractured hyoids were longer in the anterior-posterior plane and were more steeply sloping when compared with unfractured hyoids. These data indicate that hyoids of strangulation victims, with and without fracture, are distinguished by various indices of shape and rigidity. On this basis, it may be possible to explain why some victims of strangulation do not have fractured hyoid bones.

Adult↗

Abdominal ultrasonography for the diagnosis of strangulation in small bowel obstruction.

The efficacy of abdominal ultrasonography for the recognition of strangulation was evaluated prospectively in 231 patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction. The diagnosis based on ultrasonographic criteria was accurate in 35 of 39 patients with strangulation and in 176 of 192 with simple obstruction. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed the presence of strangulation in 13 of 15 patients with strangulation who were clinically diagnosed as having simple obstruction, and ruled it out in 28 of 36 with simple obstruction who were clinically suspected to have strangulation. An akinetic dilated loop observed on real-time ultrasonography proved to have high sensitivity (90 per cent) and specificity (93 per cent) for the recognition of strangulation; however, its positive predictive value for strangulation was only 73 per cent. The presence of peritoneal fluid was sensitive for strangulation. Compared with clinical judgment based on conventional parameters, abdominal ultrasonography proved to be useful for the early recognition of strangulation.

Adolescent↗

Role of endothelin in the circulatory changes associated with small bowel strangulation obstruction in pigs: effects of the endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that experimental strangulation obstruction leads to increased release and concentration of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in venous blood from the strangulated bowel loop. The present study focuses on the microcirculatory effects of the released ET-1 in strangulation obstruction. METHODS: In anesthetized pigs strangulation obstruction was induced by increasing pressure in a baby pressure gasket placed around a loop of ileum until venous pressure reached 45 mm Hg. The pigs were randomly allocated into two groups. The nonselective ET(A)/ET(B) antagonist bosentan was administered intravenously (5 mg kg(-1)) to eight pigs (bosentan group) 30 min before strangulation, which was maintained for 90 min. Another eight pigs were treated in same manner except for the bosentan injection (control group). RESULTS: The concentration of ET in arterial and intestinal venous blood increased markedly after intravenous administration of bosentan. Intravenous infusion of bosentan was followed by a reduction in systemic arterial blood pressure. Bosentan reduced vascular resistance and increased blood flow in the normal intestinal mucosa. It also reduced muscularis blood flow in the beginning of the experiment. In strangulated small bowel bosentan inhibited the increase in vascular resistance usually caused by strangulation obstruction. Muscularis blood flow in strangulated small bowel was not affected by bosentan. CONCLUSION: Endothelin is involved in the normal regulation of arterial blood pressure. The increase in vascular resistance associated with strangulation obstruction is caused mainly by locally released endothelin.

Animals↗

Intracartilaginous haemorrhagic lesions in strangulation?

This case control study was designed to investigate if laryngeal haemorrhages occur in cases of strangulation and whether these lesions are specific to strangulation. In the study 30 larynges from victims of fatal strangulation were examined (7 cases of manual strangulation, 12 cases of ligature strangulation, 11 cases of combined manual and ligature strangulation). The control group comprised 40 cases of death without any neck injuries and another group consisted of 5 cases of death caused by trauma with findings of non-strangulation neck injuries. In all the groups, only four solitary haemorrhages (two cases, one control, one non-strangulation neck injury) were observed that did not occur in the proximity of areas of blood accumulation. The results of our investigation suggest that histological evidence of blood accumulation or of haemorrhages in thyroid cartilage is not a reliable criterion to distinguish between haemorrhagic lesions due to strangulation and other types of blood accumulation or artefacts.

Adolescent↗

Fluid resuscitation improves intestinal blood flow and reduces the mucosal damage associated with strangulation obstruction in pigs.

BACKGROUND: Strangulation obstruction of the small bowel is associated with local and systemic circulatory changes, local loss of fluid, and damage of the strangulated bowel segment. We wanted to examine to which extent these changes can be prevented by intravenous fluid administration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In anesthetized pigs, strangulation obstruction was induced by increasing the pressure in a baby pressure gasket placed around a loop of ileum until venous pressure in the loop reached 50 mm Hg. During the strangulation period (180 min), a group of eight animals (Fluid(min) group) received 10 ml. kg(-1). hour(-1) Ringer acetate solution intravenously, whereas another eight animals (Fluid(max) group) received 55 ml. kg(-1). hour(-1) Ringer acetate solution intravenously. Blood flow to the strangulated bowel was measured by transit time flowmetry and colored microspheres. After completed experiments, whole wall samples of the strangulated loop were selected for microscopy. RESULTS: In the Fluid(min) group, the heart rate increased, the arterial pressure decreased markedly, and the urine output decreased toward zero. In the Fluid(max) group, the heart rate and arterial pressure remained fairly constant and the urine output increased. Blood flow to the strangulated bowel decreased in both groups, but significantly more in the Fluid(min) group. The intestinal blood flow was highly dependent on the arterial blood pressure. The strangulated mucosa showed markedly more damage in the Fluid(min) group than the Fluid(max) group. The degree of mucosal damage correlated linearly with the mucosal blood flow. CONCLUSION: The administration of large amounts of fluid to animals with strangulation obstruction normalized the arterial pressure and improved the intestinal blood flow thus minimizing damage to the intestinal mucosa.

Animals↗

Endotoxin and cytokine release in strangulation obstruction and in partial occlusion of the mesenteric artery in pigs.

BACKGROUND: The study was performed to determine if endotoxin or the cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) are liberated from strangulated or partially ischemic small bowel. METHODS: Strangulation obstruction was induced by elevating pressure in a gasket placed around a loop of ileum until venous pressure reached 50 mm Hg. Low arterial flow in a loop of ileum was produced by arterial clamping reducing blood flow by 70%. A proximal bowel loop was used for control. Arterial blood flow was measured by transit time flowmetry. Blood samples were collected before and after 30, 90 and 180 min of strangulation or clamping. Plasma levels of endotoxin and cytokines (TNF, IL-1 and IL-6) were measured by limulus amebocyte lysate test and bioassays, respectively. RESULTS: Strangulation obstruction caused more extensive mucosal damage than arterial clamping. Strangulation was followed by markedly increased venous concentration and release of IL-6 in the strangulated loop. Partial arterial occlusion did not cause increased release of IL-6. Strangulation or partial clamping did not influence the concentration of endotoxin, IL-1 or TNF in intestinal venous blood. CONCLUSIONS: Strangulation obstruction causes increased release of IL-6 to intestinal venous blood. IL-6 levels did not increase after 70% reduction of arterial blood flow. The early IL-6 increase was not detected in systemic blood. Strangulation did not cause early changes in plasma levels of endotoxin, TNF or IL-1.

Animals↗

Strangulated external hernias in Kumasi.

BACKGROUND: In our hospital, Komfo Anokye, Kumasi theatre records show that more than 65 per cent of hernia repairs are performed for strangulation. The low level of elective repair may be linked to poverty, ignorance and fear, factors commonly found in a rapidly expanding young city like Kumasi with ever increasing population. This paper highlights the morbidity and mortality associated with surgery for strangulated external hernias. METHOD: The details of consecutive adult patients admitted to our emergency ward with a diagnosis of strangulated hernia were recorded. In addition the mode of presentation, hernia type, treatment and the outcome were recorded for each case. RESULTS: Out of 120 strangulated external hernias 76 were indirect, 6 recurrent and 4 direct a total of 86 (71.7%) inguinal hernias. Strangulated femoral hernias were diagnosed in 12 (10 percent)) of the cases. These were all females. Other hernias included 13 (10.8%) para-umbilical and 9 (7.5%) of incisional hernias. Strangulation occurred in more men (80) than women (40) and 75% of these patients were aged 50 years or below. The most common physical sign for the diagnosis of strangulation was a tender lump at a previous hernia site. One hundred and seventeen patients were operated upon with an over all bowel resection rate of 24.1%. The over-all mortality was 11.8%. For the inguinal hernias, mortality was lower at 6.2% but higher for the incisional hernia at 33%. Apart from hernia type delayed operation after 72 hours increased the need for bowel resection. CONCLUSION: The significant and unacceptable morbidity and mortality associated with surgery for strangulated hernias may be avoided by advocating for mass elective repair of these hernias before strangulation occurred.

Adult↗