Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

Sirenomelia, the Mermaid Syndrome is a rare and lethal congenital anomaly with an incidence of one in 60,000 pregnancies. Sirenomelia is characterized by fusion of the lower limbs, commonly associated with renal agenesis, absent external genitalia and other gastrointestinal defects. We report a case of sirenomelia in a stillborn 26 wks fetus received for autopsy. Apart from the characteristic features it was also associated with single umbilical artery, potter’s facies and hypoplasia of various internal organs. Ultrasound may be useful in the early antenatal detection of this anomaly however coexisting oligohydramnios as in this case makes the visualisation of caudal extremity difficult. Early prenatal diagnosis should be the aim to minimize the trauma related to the termination of pregnancy at advanced gestation.

Keywords: Sirenomelia; Mermaid syndrome.

It was a 5 year retrospective study from January 2005 to December 2009. We analysed patients, who sustained electrical burns, admitted in the burns Ward under department of plastic surgery in Kasturba Medical College hospital, Manipal. Total of 303 cases were admitted during that period. Out of 303 patients 51 (16.8%) patients were admitted due to electrical burns. In our study Electrical burn was high in males (92%), as compared to females (8%). Majority of the patients were in the age group of 21-30 years (50%). followed by 41-50 years (19%) and 31-40 years (15%). Most common occurrence of electrical burn was work place (58%) in our study followed by outdoor (27%). In Electrical burns deep burns (33%) were common as compared to superficial burns (15%). Majority of the case happened during day time (86%).

Keywords: Electrical burns; Deep burns; Day time.

Background: Agricultural work is subject to the health risks inherent to a rural environment and at the same time to those deriving from the specific work process involved. It appears that a large number of people die from snakebites every year, with many cases in the south and southeastern regions of Asia. Most bites occur in rural areas where the work place (forest and field) is the most likely site. Scorpion bites & Spider bites too are a relatively frequent concurrence. Objectives: The main objective is to find out the magnitude and seasonal variations of various bites among agricultural workers in this area. Mathodology:  Type of Study:  It is a Cross-Sectional study . The study was conducted from the period of June 2009 to December 2011. Data Collection: Data collection was done through asking questionnaire from the patients/relatives; clinical examination and clinical case records of the patients. Analysis of Data: Data was analyzed in the form of percentage (%) and presented in the tabular form. Results: Total 301 patients of agriculture related biological health hazards were studied, out of these maximum number of patients were males (58.47%), followed by females (41.53%). Majority of the patients (30.57%) were belonging to age group of 20 to 35 years. Majority (81.72%) of the victims were from rural area followed by 18.28% of patients were from urban area. The maxium cases were due to snake bite (46.18%) followed by unknown bite (22.60%), scorpion sting (19.93%), insect bite (8.97%) & others (1.99). Among the majority cases (46.04%) of snake bites were during rainy season followed by winter (35.97%) and least (17.99%) cases were found during summer.

Keywords: AWs: Agricultural Workers; Snake bite; Scorpion sting.

The present study was conducted at Vinyaka Mission Kirupananda Variyar Medical College Hospital, Salem. Hospital records of the road traffic accident cases admitted in our hospital from 2008 to 2012 were studied. In our study we observed that men out numbered women. Highest incidence of Road Traffic Accident was in the age group of 21-30 years (29.3%) followed by 31-40 years (23.3%). Maximum number of cases occurred during between 6 pm to 12 pm followed by 6pm to 12 pm. Maximum number of cases were seen in spring season followed by summer season. Maximum number of victims were Two Wheeler Riders (126 cases), followed by pedestrians (52 cases). Maximum number of Injuries were Fractures (124 cases) followed by Laceration (116 cases) and Abrasion (110 cases). There was alcohol smell in their breath in 6.6 % of cases.

Keywords: Road traffic accident; Pedestrian; Two wheeler.

Hanging is one of the most common methods of suicide in India in which death of the individual occurs almost immediately. It is a widely practiced suicidal method in all cultures and has a very effective killing potential with a mortality of 80 percent. Death in hanging occurs immediately, however, a few cases have been reported in literature in which death has occurred after a certain period of time or the patient has survived after prolonged resuscitative measures. We report those cases of delayed death in hanging, for its rarity, for the discussion of the possible delayed causes of death in case of hanging and to emphasize the complications associated with delayed hanging. Present study is conducted on 76 cases of hanging deaths brought to mortuary of RRMC & hospital, Bangalore for postmortem examination from Jan 2013 to Dec 2013. The present study is conducted to analyze the cause of death in immediate & delayed cases of hanging.

Keywords: Hanging; Asphyxia; Delayed deaths; Encephalopathy; Pulmonary edema.

Stature is one of the most important and useful anthropometric parameter and its estimation hold a special place in the field of Forensic Anthropometry. It has been stated that a variety of factors such as race, gender and nutrition play an important role in determining the height of an individual. There is a relation between the axial growth and the skeletal growth which can be reflected in the growth of the forearm length. The relation appears to be a positive proportion. The present study is made on the students in puberty age with axial growth in at its peak, to estimate the stature of 170 subjects, 88 Girls and 82 Boys from forearm length of individuals having age group of 11-16 Years, in Department of Forensic Medicine, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences Narketpally. The subjects were selected irrespective of their caste, religion, dietary habits & socio-economic status. Students having significant growth disorders, deformities, bony anomalies were excluded to rule out any gross anomaly in reconstruction of stature. All individuals were measured for height and forearm length. The data thus obtained has been subjected to statistical computation. It is obviously seen that length of a person can still be made out by the length of the fore arm even in the puberty age group, where there growth is yet not completed.

Keywords: Stature; Age; Height; Fore arm length; Regression formula.

Asphyxia is a condition caused by interference with respiration, or due to lack of oxygen in respired air, due to which the organs and tissues are deprived of oxygen (together with failure to eliminate co2), causing unconsciousness or death.[1] Mechanical asphyxia is broad term in which enough external pressure is applied to the neck, chest or other parts of the body is positioned in such a way that respiration is difficult or impossible.
To know the magnitude and pattern of violent asphyxial deaths in Latur district, we have conducted an autopsy based analytic study on 94 cases of asphyxial deaths in the department of Forensic Medicine during the period 01 August 2010 to 31 July 2012. All data related to age, sex, marital status, religion and cause of death with manner were recorded with detailed autopsy examination and subsequently the cases were analyzed on various parameters to find the trends and other significant features of pattern of unnatural deaths in Latur district.
In present study total 94 violent asphyxial deaths were analyzed. Majority of deceased were males (73.40%) as compared to female (26.60%). Out of 94 cases 86.17% were Hindu and 13.83% were Muslim and 58.51% were married. Majority of cause of death were due to Hanging (60.64%), Drowning (35.11%), Strangulation (03.19%), Choking were (01.06%).Most common material used for hanging was found jute rope. Most common motive behind the hanging was domestic problems or quarrel between family members. Most common manner of death in violent asphyxial death is suicidal followed by accidental in nature.

Keywords: Violent asphyxia; Related factors.