Tomasz Konopka

The aim of this study was to investigate in which rivers and water bodies the phenomenon of corpse damage caused by scuds occurs, whether it is related to the duration of the body’s immersion in water, and to define the common characteristics of such skin lesions. Furthermore, the frequency of its occurrence was assessed, taking into account air temperature and season.

Material and methods: The autopsy reports from the Department of Forensic Medicine at Jagiellonian University in Krakow for the years 2015-2024 were analysed. A total of 285 cases of drowning victims were selected. The occurrence and type of injuries were verified based on documentation and autopsy photographs. Histopathological examinations were performed at the Department of Forensic Medicine to confirm the presence of human proteins in the digestive system of crustaceans.

Results and conclusions: A common feature in all the cases was the punctate disruption of the epidermis. In 5 out of 285 cases, small crustaceans were found, along with epidermal lesions on exposed parts of the body. Similar damage, but without the presence of individuals of scuds, was present on 25 bodies. No typical damage caused by D. haemobaphes was found on corpses in an advanced state of decomposition. The phenomenon of scud scavenging on corpses was observed almost exclusively at positive air temperatures, with an increase during the spring-summer period. The characteristic punctate epidermal lesions on corpses retrieved from water are the result of scud scavenging, including D. haemobaphes. Such damage occurred only when the time between the victim’s death due to drowning and their retrieval from the water was short. The largest number of drowning victims with signs of scud scavenging was found in the Vistula River.

Aim of the study: Analysis of self-immolation cases and distribution of the resulting burns and their degree.

Material and methods: The study included 16 cases from the Department of Forensic Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Cracow from 2000-2022 in which the cause of death was self-immolation. Based on the analysis of photographs and autopsy reports, drawings were made showing the exact distribution and nature of the injuries, moreover, the approximate percentage of body surface area affected was determined as well as the frequency of involvement of specific areas of the body, and the presence of previous diseases and mental disorders including previous suicide attempts.

Results: 81% of victims were male. Two age groups were predominant among the cases analyzed, namely, individuals around the age of 20, and those between 50 and 60 years of age. 44% of the deceased had burns exceeding 80% of total body surface. The most frequently involved body areas were the extremities and chest as well as head and neck. Fourth-degree burns were most prevalent on the head and neck, third-degree burns prevailed on the upper and lower extremities, second-degree burns were mostly found on the chest, and first-degree burns - on the lower extremities. There were no cases of fourth-degree burns of the buttocks. 38% of the subjects had a history of substance abuse, 56% suffered from mental illnesses, whereas 31% attempted suicide in the past.

Conclusions: The distribution of burns in self-immolation cases is inhomogeneous. The most frequently affected area was the head, neck, chest and extremities, most likely due to victims dousing themselves with a flammable substance from the top of the head through the chest. In all cases, the immediate cause of death was burn disease, regardless of the size of the body surface area affected by the burns. The majority of victims had a history of mental illness, substance abuse or suicide attempts.

Aim of the study: Analysis of the choice of suicide method by gender and age of the deceased.

Material and methods: The study presented here was based on a retrospective analysis of autopsy reports from the years 2001-2010 in the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum in Kraków. The basis of the research work conducted was the collection and extensive analysis of cases of suicide deaths. Subsequently, a preference analysis of the choice of suicide method was conducted, taking into account the age and gender of the deceased. The statistical analysis performed used logistic regression in Excel’s XLSTAT as an analysis tool.

Results: A total of 2,073 suicide cases were collected from the time frame under discussion. The predominant method of suicide was hanging (1524 cases, 1329 men and 195 women), the second most common method was jumping from the roof or window of a high floor of a building (jumping from heights; 171 cases, 100 men, 71 women). A statistically significant correlation of suicide method with gender was found for: hanging [odds ratio (OR) male (M) vs. female (F) = 3. 4; confidence interval (CI) = 2.7-4.3; p0.001]; drowning [OR: M/F =4.1; CI = 2.6-6.4; p0.001]; jumping from heights [OR: M/F=4.1; CI=2.9-5.7; p0.001] and poisoning [OR: M/F=3.2; CI = 2.1-4.9]. Suicide with the use of firearms occurred exclusively in the case of men (40 cases). The age of the victims correlated with the method of committing suicide by jumping from heights [0R=0.98; CI=0.97-0.99; p0.001] and rail suicide [OR=0.98; CI=0.96-0.99; p0.001].

Conclusions: The study revealed that both age and gender have a significant impact on the choice of suicide method. According to available epidemiological data and the authors’ predictions, a predominance of male over female sex was observed in the case of hanging, while jumping from heights was relatively more often chosen by women. The elderly were less likely to choose jumping from heights and rail suicide.

The Aim of the work: To describe autopsy findings of suicide victims who used inorganic compounds over the past five years and to attempt to explain the resurgence of these substances as a method of suicidal poisoning.

Material and Methods: The study is based on a retrospective analysis of autopsy reports from the Department of Forensic Medicine in Cracow, covering the years 2018-2023. Cases of death resulting from suicide by ingestion of inorganic compounds were collected based on toxicological analyses.

Results: Between 2018 and 2023, 23 cases were identified (19 men and 4 women at an average age of 30 years). In 15 victims, poisoning with methemoglobin-forming substances was confirmed; in 7 of these cases, toxicological tests determined the substance to be sodium nitrite. In 13 individuals from this group, livor mortis was cyanotic or grayish in color. In 7 cases, brown blood discoloration was noted. Six more victims chose potassium cyanide as the method of suicide; all displayed congestion of internal organs as well as pulmonary edema. Intensely or moderately reddened stomach mucosa was found in 3 victims. Two individuals committed suicide by ingesting sodium azide.

Conclusions: In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in suicides involving inorganic compounds. Key factors contributing to this upward trend include easy availability of these poisons and the widespread access to information online regarding their effective use. The relatively young age of the victims can be attributed to their proficiency in using this medium

Introduction: Assessment of vitality in railway run-over cases is crucial for accurately distinguishing deaths resulting from accidents, suicides, or other types of events from those caused by criminal activity. To determine vitality at the time of the run-over, autopsy evaluation relies on the presence of indicators of preserved circulation and respiratory function at the moment of the incident.

Aim of the study: The aim of the study is to determine the frequency of selected vitality indicators in railway run-over cases and to analyze their relationship with toxicological findings, the sex of the victims, and the manner of death.

Materials and methods: After reviewing autopsy reports and the photographic database (2011–2023), 71 deaths classified as caused by railway run-over were identified. Data were collected on the described indicators of vitality at the time of the incident and the frequency of their occurrence. Blood alcohol concentration, sex and age of the victims, as well as the circumstances of the event, were also recorded.

Results: The analysis demonstrated that in every railway run-over case, the presence of vitality indicators could be confirmed, with external bruising being observed in all instances. Internal hemorrhages were also frequent (38% of cases), as were pulmonary contusions (58%) and aspiration of blood into the airways (45%). The vast majority of the deceased were male (83.1%). At the time of the incident, a blood alcohol concentration exceeding 0.5‰ was found in 45.1% of individuals. More than half of the cases (56.3%) were classified as accidents, 36.6% as suicides, and in 7% the circumstances of death remained unclear.

Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that even in cases involving extensive bodily trauma, including dismemberment, it is possible to determine whether the victim was alive at the moment of the railway run-over. Despite the severe destruction of the bodies, it remains feasible to establish whether death resulted from the run-over itself or whether an alternative cause should be considered, such as homicide followed by placement of the body on the tracks.

Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the incidence of Messerer fractures in the years 1980–1984 and 2016–2020 in the material of the Department of Forensic Medicine in Kraków and to equate it with the available literature.

Material and methods: Section protocols collected at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Kraków from 1980–1984 and 2016–2020 were investigated. Cases of car-pedestrian traffic accidents were collected and analyzed.

Results: In the 39 cases from 1980–1984, 47 Messerer fractures were present. These reports represented 8.35% of deaths related to car-pedestrian traffic accidents. Among 9 women, Messerer fracture was generally observed in the right femur (41.67%), and the base of the wedge was lateral (41.67%). Whereas among 30 men, it was mainly located in the right femur or tibia (25.71% each). Alcohol was detected among 17 people. While in the 34 postmortem reports from 2016–2020 (15.38% of fatal strikes by a car), 43 Messerer fractures were present. They were usually located in the right tibia (39.5%), then in the right fibula (20.9%) and in the left tibia (14%). The bases of the wedges were mostly lateral (51.2%) and anterior (14%). In contemporary protocols, alcohol was detected among 22 people.

Conclusions: Contrary to the literature data Messerer fractures occur in modern times almost twice as often as in the 80’s. Some differences regarding localization in lower extremities or wedge orientation can be observed.

Aim: The aim of the present study is to analyze drowning fatalities in the Vistula River from 2011 to 2020 in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship.

Material and Methods: The material for the study consisted of autopsy protocols provided by the Department of Forensic Medicine in Cracow. Demographic data, results of post-mortem examinations and results of basic toxicological tests - levels of ethyl alcohol in the blood and urine of decedents were analyzed. The extracted data were subjected to statistical analysis using TIBCO Statistica® 13.3.0 software. χ2 and one-way ANOVA tests of independence (p < 0.05) were performed.

Results: 79 cases were analyzed. The mean age was 44.2 years (SD = 16.81). The majority of the study group was male (73.1%). 57.9% of men were under the influence of alcohol (>0.5 per mille) at the time of drowning, compared to 23.8% of women (p = 0.008). Most bodies were found between the Kosciuszko and Dąbie barrages (57.0%). Spring and summer were the most common seasons for drownings (59.5%). 35.4% of victims suffered from psychiatric illnesses. Emphysema aquosum was more frequent in bodies that were not in an advanced state of putrefaction (p = 0.000). 23.1% of victims had head injuries, 14.1% - upper limb injuries, while 11.5% had lower limb injuries

Conclusions: Inebriated men are more likely to be victims of drowning, which may be due to a greater tendency toward reckless behavior and irresponsible consumption of alcoholic beverages. Most drownings occur in the city center, which points to suicide as the cause of incident. The occurrence of external injuries is the result of jumping from a great height or the effect of carrying the corpse downstream.

Conflicts of interest statement:
The authors declare no conflict of interest

The study aims to compare suicide poisoning and poisons used to commit suicide in the 1930s and today. The focus is on autopsy protocols from 1930–1939 and 2010–2019 collected at the Forensic Medicine Institute in Krakow. In the years 1930–1939, there were 184 cases, 65 of which were among men and 119 among women. The most common poisons were corrosives, accounting for 69 cases, 43 were carbon monoxide, 24 were drugs and narcotics, 17 were heavy metals, and the remaining 31 were other substances. Of the 138 suicide poisonings in modern times, 96 were committed by men and 42 by women. The most common poisoning was multi-drug poisoning – 62 cases. Opioids, benzodiazepines, neuroleptics and antidepressants were the most frequently chosen substances today. Fatal intoxications with drugs/new psychoactive substances (NCAs) were observed in 28 cases, while other substances were used in the remaining 17. The conducted analysis showed a significant decrease in suicidal poisoning with the use of corrosive substances and gases, while the percentage of drug overdoses is systematically growing. Poisons used for suicide purposes in the 1930s left macroscopic changes that could be instantly noticed during the autopsy. The fact that drugs that are currently used most often do not leave such changes may justify the dynamic development of forensic toxicology.

Aim: Analysis of different methods of performing illegal abortions and causes of death in women who underwent the procedure during the interwar period.

Material and methods: The study was based on the autopsy protocols from 1920-1939 archived at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum in Krakow, Poland. The analysis comprised the deaths of women during pregnancy or in the perinatal period. The cases in which abortion was performed legally, for medical indications, were excluded.

Results: A total of 101 cases of illegal abortion were identified during the period studied, including 21 abortions performed by midwives, and three abortions carried out by qualified medical personnel. In 19 cases, abortion was done using a catheter or wire, while in eight cases the procedure was performed by injecting an abortion-inducing substance into the uterus or administering an injection into the foetus. Vaginal or uterine injury (27 cases), or vaginal or uterine wall perforation (10 cases), were the most common genital tract lesions indicative of abortion.

Conclusions: The majority of deaths (71) were caused by peritonitis or sepsis originating from an infection involving the genital tract.

Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze and compare the most common post-mortem changes which can be found in the body after ligature strangulation and compare it with the most recent literature.

Materials and methods: autopsy protocols from years 2001–2020 gathered in the Department of Forensic Medicine in Kraków were investigated. 37 cases of certain and possible strangulation were found and analysed. Prevalence of ligature strangulation, age, sex, information concerning perpetrator and post-mortem changes were considered.

Results: we found and analysed 37 cases, however only in 16 cases the certain cause of death was ligature strangulation. in the remaining 18 cases the mechanism of death was not precisely defined. in 3 cases advanced late post-mortem changes disturbed establishment of certain identification. Women constituted 87.5% of all victims, while men 12.5%. among 16 certain ligature strangulations we analysed the most important post-mortem changes. Both subconjunctival hemorrhagic petechiae and facial skin petechiae were observed in 93.8% of the cases, laryngeal or hyoid fracture in 56.3%, and hemorrhages in neck muscles were detected in 87.5% of the cases.

Conclusions: The most frequent post-mortem changes after ligature strangulation include subconjunctival petechiae, facial skin petechiae and hemorrhages in the neck muscles which are convergent with the data found in literature. The autopsy may not indicate the circumstance of strangulation.

Recent years saw frequent media reports of young people who die while they are being arrested by the police. Death in these circumstances affects people who are agitated and restrained with the use of force, with their autopsies indicating no unequivocally traumatic cause of death. The goal of this study was to identify the mechanism and circumstances of sudden deaths in agitated individuals who are being restrained. Ten cases evaluated at our center since 2010 were included in this study: nine involved forensic postmortem examination and one involved casefile analysis. In each case there was sudden cardiac arrest or at least a loss of consciousness, and the cardiopulmonary resuscitation proved ineffective. In six cases the cause of agitation was acute psychosis, in four it was an effect of narcotics, usually in high concentration. Conjunctival petechiae were detected in only five cases. The most probable cause of death in the evaluated cases was the combination of physical exertion caused by pathological psychomotor agitation and forcible restraint, hindering the function of the respiratory system. This mechanism is known as restraint asphyxia.