Comparison of autopsy and stereomicroscope findings in the examination of hyoid bone fractures.

Purpose: Laryngeal fractures represent important findings in asphyxial deaths due to hanging and strangulation. Forensic anthropological examination of bone following removal of surrounding soft tissues may provide more reliable information regarding the presence and location of such lesions. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of stereomicroscopy in the dedection of the hyoid bone fractures. Methods: The study was based on the examination of cases in which the hyoid bone was dissected during autopsy and subsequently referred for bone analysis. Following entomological maceration to remove soft tissues, the specimens were examined in detail using a stereomicroscope. The stereomicroscopic findings obtained from 276 hyoid bones were then compared with the corresponding macroscopic autopsy findings. Results: Differences between stereomicroscopic and the autopsy findings in the number of detected fractures were observed in 21.0% of cases. In addition, discrepancies in fracture localization were identified in 3.6% of cases. Conclusion: Due to its anatomical position, fractures of the hyoid bone may not always be detected during autopsy. Forensic anthropological examination of the hyoid bone following autopsy may therefore serve as a valuable complementary approach in determining the cause of death, particularly in asphyxial deaths resulting from hanging and strangulation.