Lethal hypothermia due to impalement. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Duval, Inga; Doberentz, Elke; Madea, Burkhard
• Is Part Of: Forensic science international. Volume 314(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Lethal hypothermia -- Impalement injury -- Heat shock proteine -- Aquaporin 3; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Forensic -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Chimie légale -- Périodiques; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; Chemistry, Forensic; Medical jurisprudence; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110397
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0379-0738

Abstract

Highlights: Impalement injury by metal bar caused forced position leading to lethal hypothermia. Pancreatic hemorrhage is a rare but known finding in cases of lethal hypothermia. HSP expression in the area of Wischnewski spots as stress response to hypothermia. Abstract: Impalement injuries in the region of large blood vessels can lead to extensive and even lethal blood loss. However, they can also lead to forced positions from which the affected persons cannot free themselves. This 85-year-old woman was found dead in a prone position in her garden. A metal bar had penetrated deeply into the front of her right thigh, while the other end of the bar was stuck firmly in the soil. The metal bar had merely displaced the woman's muscles and the larger blood vessels without causing major blood loss. There were typical findings of lethal hypothermia, including Wischnewski spots of the gastric mucosa and frost erythema on both knees and the left lower leg. The fall onto the metal bar caused an impalement injury leading to a forced position from which the woman could not free herself where she finally succumbed to lethal hypothermia.