Forensic medical assessment of closed laryngeal injuries in deceased persons

Abstract

the aim of the study was to conduct a morphological analysis and to characterize the injuries in cases of blunt laryngeal injury in deceased persons in order to determine the ways of improving the efficiency of forensic medical evaluation of that injury. Laryngeal injuries are often lethal. At the same time, in cases of combined lethal traumas, the larynx injury itself is not always the one causing the death. Thus, the severity of larynx injuries should be estimated precisely in examination of deceased persons. Findings of 17 forensic medical examinations in cases of fatal closed laryngeal injuries were analyzed. Forensic medical examinations were carried out directly with our participation, on the Kharkiv Regional Bureau of Forensic Examination, during 2011–2018. Scientific and methodological sources on relevant cases were analyzed. According to the mechanism of trauma: in 8 cases (47.1%) there was a shock impact of blunt solid objects to the neck, in 5 (29.4%) cases – ligature or manual strangulation of the neck, in 2 (11.8%) cases – strangulation by blunt solid objects, in 2 (11.8%) cases – combination of manual and ligature strangulation. Severe injuries were estimated in 11 (64.7%) cases of death, most of which were caused by mechanical asphyxia. Moderate severity injuries – in 6 (35.3%) cases of closed neck injury, the causal link between the laryngeal injury and the death was not established. analysis revealed the absence of clear diagnostic criteria which could allow to objectively determine a severity of laryngeal injuries in deceased persons. The ways to improve forensic medical examinations in cases of fatal laryngeal injuries were determined.