Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

Cardiac or respiratory arrests are very common emergencies in adult group as well as in the neonatal period. These emergencies can be easily managed by knowledge and practice of resuscitation skills. Emergency physician requires knowledge and skills for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic and advanced life support. Many studies showed that CPR skills of medical graduates and junior physicians are not up to mark due to lack of training. Although, many medical colleges has been already included this in their curriculum but adequate emphasis is still not given on its practical aspects. An interventional study was conducted among third year medical students of Rural Medical College to assess their knowledge about some medical, ethical and legal aspects prior to intervention. The impact of sensitization workshop was analysed by applying appropriate statistical methods). It observed that only 19.8% students were having correct knowledge about the compression ventilation ratio. There was significant improvement in knowledge regarding indications of CPR after the sensitization workshop. The percentage was increased up to 80.2% after the workshop. Students did not have adequate Knowledge regarding legal and ethical aspects of CPR and significant improvement was observed from 22% to 66%. It could conclude that knowledge regarding medical, legal and ethical aspects of CPR was not adequate among third year medical students. However, evaluation of the impact of sensitization workshop on CPR showed significant improvement.

Keywords: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation CPR; Medical students.

Foreign body ingestion and its subsequent impaction are a common accident encountered in paediatric age group all over the world. A 2 year old girl was referred to SRTR Medical College Ambajogai with complains of stridor, difficulty in swallowing and fever for 8 days. The mother gave a doubtful history of ingestion of a 50 paise coin 20 days back. A tracheotomy was carried out and the patient started on higher antibiotics. The patient was coming out of anaesthesia well but she suffered with fatal cardiorespiratory arrest 4 hrs after admission. Post mortem examination revealed a foreign body affect the cricopharyngeal level with a lot of granulation and infection around it and bilateral pneumonitis. The cause of death was ascertained as septicaemia and pneumonia secondary to impacted foreign body at cricoparynx.

Keywords: Foreign body ingestion; Tracheotomy; Bilateral pneumonitis.

Background: Tobacco use is widely regarded as the most preventable cause of death and disease among adults. Materials & Method: A cross-sectional community based study was conducted among 155 tobacco consumers in the rural community of New-Hebbal village of Gulbarga district to know the factors responsible for initiating tobacco abuse and its impact on health. The pre designed and pre-tested pro-forma was used to collect the data. Results: The study showed that the highest prevalence of Tobacco abuse in its all forms was in illiterate people (71.62%); among labourers (50.49%); in the age group 31-50 years (47.10%) and in farmers (33.54%). A smokeless form of tobacco was consumed more in the form of Khaini (25.81%) and smoked form as Beedi (40.00%). Among 80% of the population studied, ignorance about hazardous health effect of tobacco usage was noted. Initiation of tobacco abuse was observed in adolescent age group (74.19%). Other prominent factors were peer pressure (56.13%) and pleasurable activity (31.62%). The most common complication was periodontal disease (50.96%) followed by acidity (30.33%). About 41.29 % of the population had tried to quit tobacco due to health complications. Restlessness (28.38%) & irritability (27.75%) were a prominent withdrawal symptom. Conclusion: Hence, effective intervention should be directed towards adolescent age to impart knowledge regarding the harmful consequences of tobacco abuse.                            

Key words:  Tobacco abuse; Khaini; Beedi.

Physical anthropology provides scientific method and technique for taking various measurements in different geographic regions and races. The study was aimed at determining measurements for obtainingforaminal index for both femur and humerus.  In this study 80 (44 right and 36 left) intact human adult femora and 60 (36 right and 24 left) adult human humerie were obtained from teaching skeletal collections at Department of Anatomy, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram. A hand lens, osteometric board and measuring tape were used for this purpose. Foraminal index was between 33 to 62% for left femur when calculated from proximal end and between 31 to 61% for right femur. The foraminal index was between 40 to 64% for left humerus when calculated from proximal end and between 45 to 64% for right humerus. The findings observed in this investigation have immense utility for medico legal experts. The details of data obtained with relevant review of literature were discussed.

Keywords: Physical anthropology, Femur, Humerus, Nutrient Foramen, Foraminal index.

Background: Assessment of foetal femur growth parameters is one of the key - for estimation of foetal gestational age, and determination of population growth characteristics. The present study was to evaluate the relationships between the crown-rump length (CRL) and foetal femur growth parameters and the gestational age during the second and third trimesters.Material & Method: Fifty six dead normal spontaneously delivered foetuses of second & third trimester of pregnancy were collected from the department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Government Medical College and Hospital, Aurangabad. A total of eight parametric variables were obtained from bilateral femora using a sliding calliper. Obtained data were statistically analyzed by unpaired t-test and Pearson correlation coefficients.Result: There was no significant difference observed in growth patterns between the male and female during the second and third trimesters. A significant relationship between the studied foetal growth parameters and the gestational age was found. It appears that foetal CRL and femur growth parameters are accurate for the calculation of gestational age.

Key words: Forensic Anthropology; Foetuses femur collection; Growth parameters.

In medico-legal autopsies, establishing identity of dead is frequently essential. Estimation of stature from extremities could play a vital role in identification of dead bodies in forensic investigations. The measurements of foot have been used for determination of stature of an individual. The present study examines the association between stature and foot dimensions in post-mortem individual during autopsy. Foot length of 50 males and 50 females were taken independently on left and right side of each individual during the autopsy. The data were statistically analysed in order to evaluate the correlation between stature and foot length. Statistical analysis showed that in males and females were varied 16.9 % and 15% respectively in length of body. It can be explained by right foot length. Left foot length and stature relation was statistically insignificant.

Key words: Foot length; Stature; Estimation.

Background: Deaths due to fatal head injries in road traffic accidents is commonest occrrence in day to day public life as most people use automated vehicle as a means to travel. The present study aimed to know the nature of head injuries and the patterns of skull fractures in fatal road traffic accidents in this part of India. Material & Methods: The present study was conducted in the mortuary attached to District General Hospital, Davangere during July 2005 to June 2007. Results: Deaths due to RTA were reported in 408 cases. Among 408 cases of RTA, fracture of skull was observed in 164 cases (40.1%), maximum number of skull fracture occurred between the age group of 21 – 30 years (31.1%). The males were preponderantly (81.6%) over females. It was seen that maximum number of RTA was reported between 6.00 am to 12.00 pm (38.41%). Maximum victims of skull fractures succumbed to death on the spot (23.8%) and within 6 hours (24.3%). The motorcyclists were most common victims. Linear fracture was commonest (38.9%) pattern of fracture in RTA. Conclusion: Implementation of effective road safety measures reduces these fatalities.

Keywords: Road traffic accidents; Skull fracture; Intracranial Haemorrhage.