Browsing by Author "Abeyrathna, A.A.R.M."

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Female victims of unnatural deaths
(Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Kitulwatte, I.D.G.; Edirisinghe, P.A.S.; Mendis, H.K.N.L.P.; Abeyrathna, A.A.R.M.
BACKGROUND: Unnatural deaths indicate the level of social and mental wellbeing of a society. Female unnatural deaths are often associated with their long history of deprivation of socio-economic rights. Traumatic injuries among females remain under-reported globally and studies on this area are scares. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to analyse the profile of unnatural deaths among females with a view to determine the factors influencing these deaths. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on the post mortem records of the female victims of trauma during last 3 years (2013-2015) reported to a tertiary care hospital of Sri Lanka. The historical details, scene and autopsy findings, investigations, opinion and conclusions given were obtained to fill the pro-forma. RESULTS: Of the 139 deaths, majority 71(51%) were less than 40 years of age. Commonest cause of death (40%; n=56) was accidents especially road traffic accidents followed by suicides amounting to 45 (32%). Poisoning (31%; n=14)) was the commonest method of suicide followed by hanging (26%; n=12) ). Among the 45 suicides, majority (53%; n=24) were young women. Family disputes and love affairs were the main reasons for suicide in 21 (47%) and murder in 13 (39%) deaths. Husband or a known person was the alleged perpetrator in 20 (61%) homicides. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive research into occurrence of unnatural fatalities, assists authorities in the prevention of such deaths. The study highlights the importance of timely interventions on road safety and the need for effective and timely counselling services on family matters to prevent most intentional deaths of women.
A retrospective descriptive study on homicides and injuries to the lower extremities
(Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Paranitharan, P.; Abeyrathna, A.A.R.M.; Mendis, H.K.N.L.P.; Perera, W.N.S.
BACKGROUND: Homicidal deaths result from various causes and usually involve fatal injuries. The lower extremities may sustain injuries due to an assault, fall and in some instances due to self-defense. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of the study was to describe the different types of injuries sustained by the lower extremities following homicidal deaths and analyze the different injuries and injury patterns sustained. METHODS: This was a retrospective descriptive study. Sixty eight homicidal deaths from the case load of the investigators for the past fifteen years were documented based on a pro-forma. The data was analyzed using a SPSS statistical package. RESULTS: Sharp force (38.2%), firearm (38.2%), blunt force (11.8%) and asphyxia (8.8%) were the main modes of homicide. In 50% of cases, the lower extremities were not involved and the rest were with either involvement of single (36.8%) or both extremities (13.2%). The lower extremities alone was involved on one occasion. In majority of instances, the injuries were sustained as a combination with other parts of the body such as upper and lower extremities (13.24%), head and lower extremities (13.24%) and chest and lower extremities (10.29%). In the lower extremities most of the injuries were on the region of thighs: right 47.83% and left 30.00%. A higher proportion (48.84%) of injuries were abrasions. CONCLUSIONS: The lower extremities were involved in 50% of the homicidal deaths. In most instances the thigh was involved. Assaults (45.16%) and falls (32.26%) were the main causes of trauma for lower extremities.
Study on the pattern of unnatural deaths of women brought for medico-legal autopsy
(Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine at University of Peradeniya, 2017) Kitulwatte, I.D.G.; Edirisinghe, P.A.S.; Pratheepa Mendis, H.K.N.L.; Wijesinghe, P.R.; Fernando, A.; Abeyrathna, A.A.R.M.
INTRODUCTION: An unnatural death is an intentional or unintentional death due to external causes. This can often be violent, mutilating or destructive. When the unnatural death involves a female, it shatters the lives of the survivors or the family. Traumatic injuries among females remain under-reported globally and studies on this area are scarce. We planned a retrospective descriptive study to find the epidemiologic patterns of trauma- related mortality among females for the first time. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to analyze the traumatic deaths among females to determine the circumstances, causes and epidemiology of these deaths and also to find the factors influencing them. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on the post mortem records of the female victims of trauma during last 3 years (2013-2015) reported to a tertiary care hospital of Sri Lanka. The historical details, scene findings, findings of autopsy: external and internal examinations, the results of the post-mortem investigations and the opinion and conclusions given were obtained to fill the pro-forma. RESULTS: Out of the 139 deaths reported for medico- legal examination during the period, the majority 71(51%) were less than 40 years of age. The commonest manner of death was accidents 56 (40%), especially road accidents, followed by suicides amounting to 45 (32%). Poisoning was the commonest method of suicide 14 (31%) followed by hanging 12 (26%). Sharp injuries accounted for the majority of murders 13 (39%). Family disputes and love affairs were the main reason for 21 (47%) suicides and 13 (39%) murders. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive research into occurrence of unnatural fatalities assists authorities in the prevention of such deaths. The study highlights the importance of timely interventions on road safety and the need for effective and timely counseling services on family matters to prevent most intentional deaths of women.