Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30426338›Full record

ArticleForensic science, medicine, and pathology2018

Death by hanging: a retrospective case-control investigation of the intervertebral disc vacuum phenomenon on PMCT.

Vasiliki Chatzaraki, Carlo Tappero, Michael J Thali, Wolf Schweitzer

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Forensic science, medicine, and pathology, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Death by hanging: possibilities and limits of medico-legal evidence.International journal of legal medicine · 2026
    Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Vasiliki ChatzarakiDepartment of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland. vasiliki.chatzaraki@irm.uzh.ch.
Carlo TapperoDepartment of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
Michael J ThaliDepartment of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
Wolf SchweitzerDepartment of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

During hanging gravitational forces affect the spine. Intervertebral vacuum phenomenon (VP) implies that gas accumulations in the discs are caused by degeneration of the spine and trauma. It was hypothesized that VP detected on postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) has a higher incidence in hanging deaths, which can be correlated to age, degenerative spinal changes and type of hanging (complete-incomplete). Secondly, it was investigated whether the presence of Simon's bleedings is related to hanging type and VP on PMCT. A retrospective hanging case-control study of 72 cases was conducted. PMCT data were evaluated by two observers for the presence of VP and its localization within the thoracic and lumbar discs, and for any degenerative changes of the spine. Autopsy protocols were assessed for the presence of Simon's bleedings during autopsy. VP did not statistically differ among hanging and control cases but it was statistically correlated to complete hanging, increasing age and degenerative spinal changes. Centrally located VP within the discs was correlated to hanging, especially complete hanging, and younger ages, contrary to control cases that showed gas at the disc periphery. Simon's bleedings were correlated with complete hanging and centrally located VP. Centrally located VP within the discs increases the probability for complete hanging, while increasing age and degenerative changes reduce this probability. Intervertebral VP is multifactorial radiological entity. The presence of centrally located VP can indicate that hanging could be considered as an alternative mechanism of death and that great forces and loads may have affected the spine perimortem, especially with decreasing age and when Simon's bleedings are present.

Indexed as

GasesAdultAgedAge FactorsAsphyxiaCase-Control StudiesFemaleForensic MedicineGravitationHemorrhageHumansIntervertebral DiscMaleMiddle AgedNeck InjuriesRetrospective StudiesGasesComplete hangingIncomplete hangingIntervertebral disc vacuum phenomenonPostmortem computed tomography (PMCT)Simon’s bleedingsVirtopsy

Identifiers

PMID30426338

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.