A 30-year-old man is found dead with bruising on the anterior neck and fractures of both greater cornua of the hyoid bone. There are no marks on the posterior neck. The mechanism of death is most consistent with which form of strangulation?
- A Mugging (arm-lock strangulation) ✓
- B Throttling (manual strangulation)
- C Ligature strangulation
- D Garroting
Correct answer: A. Mugging (arm-lock strangulation)
Explanation
Mugging is strangulation by holding the neck in the bend of the elbow or by the forearm from behind. This produces anterior compression of the neck, causing bilateral fractures of the greater cornua of the hyoid bone and bruising on the anterior neck, without posterior marks. In manual throttling, the thumb typically causes a fracture on one side while fingers bruise the other side. Ligature strangulation produces a circumferential mark, and garroting uses a rod behind the neck.
Reference: Reddy's The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 34th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.