Near-Hanging in a Tertiary Care Hospital attached to a Medical College: A Ten-Year Retrospective Analysis of Demography, Prognostic Indicators, and Immediate Outcomes (2012–2021)

Authors

  • Shodhan Rao Pejavar Associate Professor,Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, A. J. Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India.
  • Tanush Shetty Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Father Muller Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India.
  • Rashmi R Aithal Assistant Professor, Department of Anaesthesiology, Kasturba Medical College Manglore , Manipal Academy of higher education, Manipal Karnataka, India
  • Arun Pinchu Xavier Associate Professor,Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kanyakumari Medical Mission Research Centre and hospitals, Tamil Nadu, India. https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1762-9935 (unauthenticated)
  • Austoria A J Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Kanyakumari Medical Mission Research Centre, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Radhakrishna Shetty Kommanda Professor, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Melaka, Malaysia
  • Francis Nanda Prakash Monteiro Professor & Head,Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Melaka,Malaysia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/9zh7nx88

Keywords:

Glasgow Coma Scale; Mortality; Near-hanging; Suicide attempt; Prognostic indicators.

Abstract

Background: Near-hanging is frequently reported in trauma and emergency, compelling immediate treatment and forensic intervention.  Early predictors of outcome help guide clinical and medico-legal decisions.

Aim: To study demographic attributes and prognostic implications of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at admission in near-hanging cases over ten years.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study of 71 consecutive near-hanging patients admitted alive between January 2012 and December 2021 was conducted. Variables included age, gender, admission GCS, and outcome (survived/expired).

Results: The mean age was 32.1 years. Young adults (21–30 years) constituted 36.6% of cases. Males accounted for 54.9%. Overall survival was 54.9% and mortality 45.1%. Patients with GCS ≤8 on admission had significantly higher mortality (χ² = 12.84; p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Near-hanging predominantly affects young adults. Admission GCS is a statistically significant predictor of mortality. Early neurological assessment and aggressive emergency care are crucial.

Author Biographies

  • Shodhan Rao Pejavar, Associate Professor,Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, A. J. Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India.

    Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, A. J. Institute of Medical Sciences
    & Research Centre, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India,

  • Tanush Shetty, Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Father Muller Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India.

    Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Father Muller Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India

  • Rashmi R Aithal, Assistant Professor, Department of Anaesthesiology, Kasturba Medical College Manglore , Manipal Academy of higher education, Manipal Karnataka, India

    Assistant Professor,Department of Anaesthesiology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India

  • Arun Pinchu Xavier, Associate Professor,Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kanyakumari Medical Mission Research Centre and hospitals, Tamil Nadu, India.

    Associate Professor,Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology,Kanyakumari Medical Mission
    Research Centre, Tamil Nadu, India

  • Austoria A J, Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Kanyakumari Medical Mission Research Centre, Tamil Nadu, India

    Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Kanyakumari Medical Mission Research Centre, Tamil Nadu, India

  • Radhakrishna Shetty Kommanda, Professor, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Melaka, Malaysia

    Professor, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Melaka, Malaysia

  • Francis Nanda Prakash Monteiro, Professor & Head,Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Melaka,Malaysia.

    Professor & Head,Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Melaka,Malaysia.

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Published

2026-04-23

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 2 (2026): Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

Section

Original Article

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Copyright (c) 2026 Shodhan Rao Pejavar, Tanush Shetty, Rashmi R Aithal, Arun Pinchu Xavier, Austoria A J, Radhakrishna Shetty Kommanda, Francis Nanda Prakash Monteiro

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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How to Cite

Near-Hanging in a Tertiary Care Hospital attached to a Medical College: A Ten-Year Retrospective Analysis of Demography, Prognostic Indicators, and Immediate Outcomes (2012–2021). (2026). Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, 20(2), 73-76. https://doi.org/10.37506/9zh7nx88