A filmed hanging without decerebrate and decorticate rigidity: A case report and pathophysiological considerations

American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

Volumn 33, Issue 2, 2012, Pages 176-178

  Sauvageau, Anny ^a   Kelly, Sean ^b   Ambrosi, Corinne ^b  

^a Office of the Chief Medical Examiner   (Canada)

^b Office of the Chief Medical Examiner   (United States)

Author keywords

asphyxia; decerebrate rigidity; decorticate rigidity; hanging; pathophysiology; video recording

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; ASPHYXIA; CASE REPORT; DECEREBRATION; FORENSIC PATHOLOGY; HUMAN; MALE; MIDDLE AGED; NECK INJURY; PATHOLOGY; PATHOPHYSIOLOGY; VIDEORECORDING;

ASPHYXIA; DECEREBRATE STATE; FORENSIC PATHOLOGY; HUMANS; MALE; MIDDLE AGED; NECK INJURIES; VIDEOTAPE RECORDING;

EID: 84861227801     PISSN: 01957910     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e3181efbc3b     Document Type: Article

References (41)

1. Sauvageau A, Boghossian E. Classification of asphyxia: The need for standardization. J Forensic Sci. 2010;55:1259-1267.
2. Clement R, Redpath M, Sauvageau A. Mechanism of death in hanging: A historical review of the evolution of pathophysiological hypotheses. J Forensic Sci. 2010;55:1268-1271.
3. Sauvageau A, LaHarpe R, Geberth VJ. Agonal sequences in eight filmed hangings: Analysis of respiratory and movement responses to asphyxia by hanging. J Forensic Sci. 2010;55:1278-1281.
4. Sauvageau A. Agonal sequences in four filmed hangings: Analysis of respiratory and movement responses to asphyxia by hanging. J Forensic Sci. 2009;54:192-194.
5. Ghez C. Posture. In: Kandel E, Schwartz JH, Jessel TM, eds. Principles of Neural Science. 3rd ed. Norwalk, CT: Appleton & Lange; 1991: 596-607.
6. Davis RA, Davis L. Decerebrate rigidity in humans. Neurosurgery. 1982;10:635-642.
7. Sherrington CS. Decerebrate rigidity and reflex coordination of movements. J Physiol. 1898;22:319-332.
8. Davis RA, Davis L. Decerebrate rigidity in animals. Neurosurgery. 1981;9:79-89.
9. Wilson SA. On decerebrate rigidity in man and the occurrence of tonic fits. Brain. 1920;43:220-268.
10. Walshe FM. The decerebrate rigidity of Sherrington in man: Its recognition and differentiation from other forms of tonic muscular contraction. Arch Neurol Psychiatry. 1923;10:1-28.
11. Ganong WF. Control of posture & movement. In: Review of Medical Physiology. 22nd ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2005:202-222.
12. Malamud N. Case of periarteritis nodosa with decerebrate rigidity and extensive encephalomalacia in 5 year old child. Univ Hosp Bull Ann Arbor. 1944;10:43.
13. Mazzlo NF. Decerebrate rigidity due to cerebral hemorrhages in man. Sov Neuropat Psikhiat Ipsikhogig. 1993;2:11-17.
14. Jenkins RB. Severe chickenpox encephalopathy. Am J Dis Child. 1965;110:137-139.
15. Weisenburg TH, Alpers BJ. Decerebrate rigidity following encephalitis: Report of a case with necropsy. Arch Neurol Psychiatry. 1927;18:1-15.
16. Hassin GS. A case of amaurotic family idiocy: Late infantile type (Bielschowsky) with clinical picture of decerebrate rigidity. Arch Neurol Psychiatry. 1926;16:708-727.
17. Marinesco G, Radovici A. Idiotie amaurotique et rigiditee decerebree. Encephale. 1923;18:145-156.
18. Conomy JP, Swash M. Reversible decerebrate and decorticate postures in hepatic coma. N Engl J Med. 1968;278:876-879.
19. Juneja I, Yovic A. Hepatic decerebration. Neurology. 1972;22:537-539.
20. Funfgeld EW. The restitution of EEG after strangulation hypoxia and decerebrate rigidity. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1967;23: 381-382.
21. Yamaguchi S, Oki S, Ogasawara H, et al. A case of simultaneous bilateral carotid occlusion Ein Japanese. No Shinkei Geka. 1997;25: 247-251.
22. Chatrian GE, White LE Jr, Shaw CM. EEG pattern resembling wakefulness in unresponsive decerebrate state following traumatic brain-stem infarct. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1964;16: 285-289.
23. Scott M, Lennon HC. Decerebrate tonic extensor convulsions as a sign of occlusion of the basilar artery: Report of a case with autopsy. Arch Neurol Psychiatry. 1940;44:1102-1108.
24. Mehta SR, Srinivasan KV, Bindra MS, et al. Near drowning in cold water. J Assoc Physicians India. 2000;48:674-676.
25. Paliwoda T, Grudzinska B, Sosmierz M. Decerebrate syndrome following cardiac arrest. Pol Tyg Lek. 1962;17:1556-1560.
26. Bigi A. Decerebrate state due to cardiac arrest with succession of atypical epileptic pictures: Clinical and electroencephalographic study. Riv Patol Nerv Ment. 1964;85:627-660.
27. Lenehan NE. An unusual postoperative complicationVdecerebrate rigidity. Anesthesiology. 1943;4:543-545.
28. Mumenthaler M. Decerebration following carbon monoxide poisoning: Clinical and pathologicoanatomical observation of a case with 11-month survival Ein German. Schweiz Arch Neurol Neurochir Psychiatr. 1961;88:248-272.
29. Widomska-Czekajska T. Case of decerebrate state in course of acute isonicotinic acid poisoning. Pol Tyg Lek. 1965;20:533-534.
30. Gilliam EE. Control of muscle tone, posture, balance and walking. Available at: Http://web.mit.edu/16.423/www/Control%20of%20Muscle% 20Tone%3B%20Posture. Accessed June 07, 2010.
31. Ghez C. The control of movement. In: Kandel E, Schwartz JH, Jessel TM, eds. Principles of Neural Science. 3rd ed. Norwalk, CT: Appleton & Lange; 1991:533-457.
32. Jeneskog T, Johansson H. The rubro-bulbospinal path: A descending system known to influence dynamic fusimotor neurons and its interaction with distal cutaneous afferents in the control of flexor reflex afferent pathways. Exp Brain Res. 1977;27:161-179.
33. Spencer RF, Gleason AT. The vestibular system. In: Conn PM, ed. Neuroscience in Medicine. 2nd ed. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press; 2003: 596-607.
34. Pritchard TC, Alloway KD. Vestibular system. In: Medical Neuroscience. 1st ed. Madison, CO: Fence Creek Publishing; 1999: 249-264.
35. Baloh RW, Honrubia V. The central vestibular system. In: Clinical Neurophysiology of the Vestibular System. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2001:53-104.
36. Schor RH, Miller AD. Vestibular reflexes in neck and forelimb muscles evoked by roll tilt. J Neurophysiol. 1981;46:167-178.
37. Magnus R, de Kleijn A. Die abhangigkeit des tonus des extremitatenmuskeln von der kopfstellung. Pflugers Arch Ges Physiol. 1912;145:455-548.
38. Lindsay KW, Roberts TD, Rosenberg JR. Asymmetric tonic labyrinth reflexes and their interaction with neck reflexes in the decerebrate cat. J Physiol. 1976;261:583-601.
39. Manzoni D, Pompeiano O, Srivastava UC, et al. Responses of forelimb extensors to sinusoidal stimulation of macular labyrinth and neck receptors. Arch Ital Biol. 1983;121:205-214.
40. Scarpini C, Mazzocchio R, Mondelli M, et al. Changes in alpha motoneuron excitability of the soleus muscle in relation to vestibular stimulation assessed by angular acceleration in man. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 1991;53:100-105.
41. Chan CW, Kearney RE. Influence of static tilt on soleus motoneuron excitability in man. Neurosci Lett. 1982;33:333-338.