Browsing by Author "Kartal, E."

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An Autopsy Series: Lightning-Related Deaths in Van and Hakkari Provinces, Turkey
(Univ West indies Faculty Medical Sciences, 2021) Hekimoglu, Y.; Asirdizer, M.; Demir, U.; Gur, A.; Etli, Y.; Gumus, O.; Kartal, E.
Objective: To report the largest series of lightning-related deaths in Turkey, to review the literature on this subject, and to identify similarities and differences between the autopsy findings in this study and the information available in literature. Methods: In this study, autopsy reports and crime scene investigation data on 11 lightning-related fatalities that occurred in the Van and Hakkari Provinces, Turkey, from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Of the 1699 fatalities, 11 (2.53%) evaluated by medico-legal autopsy in the Van and Hakkari Province in a 5-year period died from lightning strikes. Of these cases, 10 (90.1%) were males and 1 (9.9%) was female (p < 0.05). All cases were in the 11 to 33 years age group. All cases were injured outdoors. Conclusion: We concluded that deaths due to lightning strikes are relatively rare in Turkey, and may be reduced with precautions such as avoiding staying under trees or in the vicinity of high towers, refraining from touching metal objects, avoiding lying on the ground, leaning on walls, and crouching outdoors.
Hypothermia Deaths in Van Province, Turkey
(Univ West indies Faculty Medical Sciences, 2021) Hekimoglu, Y.; Etli, Y.; Gumus, O.; Kartal, E.; Demir, U.; Asirdizer, M.
Objective: To evaluate autopsy findings in hypothermia-related deaths in Van Province, Turkey, a city near the Turkey-Iran border. Methods: Autopsy reports on 43 hypothermia fatalities were retrospectively reviewed. Data regarding age, gender, nationality of the cases, seasonality of the deaths, crime scene findings, autopsy findings, manner of deaths, risk factors for hypothermia, other traumatic lesions, and toxicology were obtained from autopsy records and scene investigation records. Results: There were 36 males and 7 females. The mean age was 20.5 years. More than half of the cases died or were found dead in the spring months. All but one of the cases was found dead outdoors. There were common red-coloured livor mortis in 33 cases (76.7%), antemortem traumas in 16 cases (37.2%), cold erythema in 26 cases (60.5%), myxedema in 1 case, bloody discolouration in the synovial fluid in 11 (84.6%) cases, and Wischnewski spots in 32 cases (74.4%). Conclusion: The study showed that illegal refugees are an important social problem in Turkey. Hypothermia should be considered as a cause of death for refugees when they are found, especially in the cold provinces. In the diagnosis of hypothermia, bloody discolouration of the synovial fluid is confirmed to be a valuable finding. Wischnewski spots remain valuable for positive identification.
Neck Vascular Lesions in Hanging Cases: a Literature Review
(Churchill Livingstone, 2022) Asirdizer, M.; Kartal, E.
The aim of this review was to investigate the types and rates of vascular lesions occurring in cases of completed hanging and near-hanging, defined in literature. In the literature to date, 6 specific types of vascular injuries have been defined in cases of death as a result of hanging. These are Amussat's sign, Etienne Martin's sign, Dominguez-Paez sign, Friedberg-Lesser sign, Ziemke-Otto's sign, and Lupascu sign. As a result of this study, it was determined that the most defined finding was the Amussat sign, and it was concluded that the other findings were not sufficiently recognized. Likewise, considering that the proportional differences are due to the differences in the rates of autopsy practice and autopsy protocols between countries, it can be suggested that international joint autopsy protocols should be developed at the meetings in which national professional associations participate. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Type and Fusion Identification by Age and Sex in Human Hyoid Bone Using 3d Ct Images in a Turkish Sample
(Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, 2024) Mutlu, G.D.; Aşırdizer, M.; Kartal, E.; Keskin, S.; Mutlu, İ.; Göya, C.
The morphometric measurement of the hyoid bone has been extensively studied in the literature, although morphological evaluations are covered in a limited number of studies. The aim of this study was to ascertain the fusion status and hyoid bone type and their relationships with age groups and sex. An examination was made of computed tomography scans of 320 patients. The types and degrees of fusion of the hyoid bone were determined. Hyoid type-U was most frequently observed in males (25.6%), type-D in females (31.9%) and the overall population (30.8%). There was no statistically significant difference in fusion formation on the right and left sides. The number of bones with fusion increased in both sexes with age (p=0.001). The earliest fusion observed was in a case aged 16 years, and 50% of the cases did not have fusion at age 61 years or older. Unlike previous studies, hyoid type and fusion status were evaluated using discriminant function analysis. Hyoid type and fusion cannot be indicative criteria for sex and age determination, but it might be feasible to accurately identify a person younger than twenty years old. The data obtained in the current study can be considered to make an important contribution to future studies. © 2024, Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Tip Fakultesi. All rights reserved.