FRACTURES OF NECK STRUCTURES IN SUICIDAL HANGING

A prospective study of hanging deaths was performed, and 80 cases of s uicidal hanging were registered. The purpose of the study was to regis ter fractures of the bony structures of the neck. The frequency of suc h fractures ranges from rare to frequent in the literature. Prospectiv e studies give the highest incidence of fractures. Careful dissection and an X-ray cabinet with ready-made film in envelopes were used to re gister all fractures. There were 73 per cent men and 27 per cent women . The mean age was 38.7 years. The proportion of fractures seemed to i ncrease with age and possibly also with increasing suspension time. Th e highest frequency of fractures was found in atypical complete hangin gs.