Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

A 40 years old male was accidentally strangulated, when his clothes got caught in the belt of electric motor while working at the farm. He was brought dead in mortuary wing of hospital. Cause of death was given as fracture of cervical vertebrae as a result of ligature strangulation.

Key words: Accidental strangulation, Ligature mark, fracture

The relationship between age and degree of fusion between manubrium and mesosternurm and xiphoid process and mesosternurm was studied. The data was statistically analyzed. The mean age for onset and completion of these joints were calculated, followed by their regression equation for males and females respectively. Combined regression equation was also calculated for use where sex of the person is not known. The findings are presented in this article.

Key words: Sternum, Sternal joints, Degree of fusion, Age estimation

The present work entitled study of Patterns of Cranio-cerebral Injuries in Deaths due to Fatal Vehicular Accidents was undertaken at Forensic Medicine Department at M. R. Medical College, Gulbarga. The objective of the study is to find out the magnitude of the problem with reference to different host factors and to analyze the significance of nature of injury and the part of the brain injured with the time of survival and also to study the patterns of cranio-cerebral injuries in deaths due to fatal vehicular accidents. In this study 128 cases of head injury victims in fatal vehicular accidents autopsied from June 2003 to June 2008 were included. Maximum cases of road traffic accidents were among males (88%), male to female ratio was 5:1 and maximum incidence was in the age group of 21-40 years comprising 55%. Most common victims were pedestrians (36%) followed by occupants (34%) and drivers (25%). Incidence was more common among the four wheeler vehicles. Temporal (20%) and frontal (20%) bones were the commonest sites of fracture. Subdural hemorrhage was the commonest among the intracranial hemorrhages seen in 40% cases.

Keywords: Cranio-cerebral injuries, Vehicular accidents.

In spite of advances in the diagnosis and treatment, the mortality in coronary heart disease remains high. Number of risk factors blamed for coronary heart disease are diabetes mellitus, hypertension, type A personality, raised cholesterol, family history of ischaemic heart disease, chronic alcoholism, obesity, tobacco addiction, long term use of oral contraceptive pills etc. Hence, primordial prevention is the key for controlling this deadly disease.The present study has been attempted to evaluate skin crease over the ear lobe - as a physical marker of coronary artery disease. It is carried out at S.R.T.R. Medical college Hospital Ambajogai comprising 100 cases of coronary artery disease. The age sex and other risk factors matched to 100 control cases attending the medicine O.P.D. without having coronary artery disease. All cases were examined for ear lobe crease, characterized by deep diagonal wrinkle in lobar portion of one or both auricles extending for a distance greater than or equal to one third of ear lobe length. In study group, 72% cases had ear lobe crease while in control group 14% cases had ear lobe crease. By applying test of significance the probability was less than 0.001 i.e. highly significant. Then odd ratio was calculated and it was 15.79, suggesting that, if other risk factors are matched, person with ear lobe crease is 15.79 times at more risk to have coronary artery disease, than without.

Key words: Ear lobe crease, coronary heart disease, physical marker\\\' or \\\'a cutaneous skin marker

The present study was aimed to estimate the age of an individual by morphological analysis of third molar maturity on orthopantomograph. The study was undertaken at the Dept of Orthodontics, Rural Dental College, Loni, from 1st March 09 to 31st August 09, among students of Rural Dental College, Loni in the age group of 16 to 23 years. Assessment and fixing of age of a person in these age groups is necessary in issues pertaining to establishing criminal responsibility, dispensing judicial punishment, classification of an offence as rape and kidnapping, validity of marriage contract and attainment of majority. Orthopantomograph of 196 subjects were taken, of which half i.e. 98 were male and 98 were females. Developmental stages of 3rd molars in all four quadrants were evaluated using Demirjian 8 stage scoring scale. The predominant developmental stage in age 16 years in all quadrants was ‘D’. In females it appeared in the range of 60-70%, while it was in the range of 71.4- 86 % in males. In age 18 years predominant development stage in females in upper jaw was ‘F’ in 60 % cases, while in lower jaw it was in the range of 20-40 %. Stage ‘G’ was seen in 20 % cases in all quadrants. Stage ‘H’ appeared in upper jaw in 20 % cases. In males predominant stages seen in upper jaw were ‘F’ and ‘G’ in 50 % cases each. In the lower jaw ‘F’ was the predominant stage followed by ‘G’ in 33.3 % cases. Our study results confirm the utility of morphological analysis of third molar maturity by Demirjian 8 stage classification on orthopantomograph as a means of estimating biological age of the subjects and can be practically implemented.

Key words: Dental age, Third molar, Demirjian’s score scale, orthopantomograph

Proper handling and maintenance of patient’s /deceased person’s medical records is an integral part of medical and medico legal practice. This is the least bothered and most neglected section in medical practice, especially in developing countries like India. Medical records have proven of great help in medico legal matters and in cases of negligence suits filed against the medical practitioner. Properly kept medical records can save the doctor from many unpleasant situations. Indian law is not very clear about the facts of medical records. There are some guidelines issued by recognised professional bodies regarding them. So it is must for a medical and medico legal practitioners to know about the facts of medical and legal aspects of maintaining the patient’s records for their own benefits, as ignorance is not always bliss.

Key words: Medical records, medical practitioner, medico legal expert, record keeping, patient