Retropective evaluation of autopsy findings in deaths resulting from hanging at the department of forensic Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University Faculty of Medicine, 2012-2020

Hanging is an act that often results in death and occurs when a ligament, which is passed to the neck at a fixed point at one end and the other end as a loop, is fully or partially stretched by the body's own weight, and as a result, compresses the neck and compresses the respiratory tract, vessels and nerves. Many psychiatric disorders, particularly depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, are often associated with suicide by hanging. We retrospectively analyzed in our study the autopsy findings of 80 cases who died from hanging in Isparta between 2012-2020. We analyzed variables such as age, gender, time of suicide act by hanging (year, month, season), location of hanging, ecchymoses in the neck muscles, and psychiatric disorders. The results indicate that there were more cases of death by hanging in men (n=58) compared to women (n=22), with the highest incidence observed among individuals aged 18-40 (42.5%). Hanging cases were most commonly observed in autumn (n=30. Home was found to be the most common location for hangings (70%), with the use of a rope as the primary method (n=50). Findings around the neck and cervical muscle region, most common cases were sternocleidomastoideus (SCM) muscle ecchymosis in 59 (73.75%) cases, and the second most common was sternohyoid muscle ecchymosis in 24 (30%) cases. 34 cases (42.5%) had hyoid bone fractures, 14 cases (17.5%) had thyroid cartilage fractures, and 4 (5%) cases had cervical vertebra fractures. 21 (26.3%) cases were diagnosed with a psychiatric disease. Our research indicates that hanging is possibly one of the most commonly used suicide methods due to its accessibility and ease of application. In suicide deaths, many cases have psychiatric problems, they commit suicide without consult a psychiatrist or being diagnosed. Offering diagnosis and treatment for psychiatric disorders is essential for preventing suicide cases. Key words: Hanging, Neck, Suicide, Autopsy, Death