Can MRI of the neck compete with clinical findings in assessing danger to life for survivors of manual strangulation? A statistical analysis
Received 16 February 2010; received in revised form 9 April 2010; accepted 13 May 2010. published online 14 July 2010.
Abstract
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.
aDepartment of Radiology, Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern, Freiburgstrasse, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
bInstitute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Buehlstrasse 20, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
cInstitute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Turmstrasse 21, 10559 Berlin, Germany
Corresponding author. Address: Department of Radiology, Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern, Freiburgstrasse, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland. Tel.: +41316322111.
ABSTRACT