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. 1979 Oct;83(4):283-9.
doi: 10.1007/BF01882174.

[The importance of Simon's symptom in cases of hanging (author's transl)]

[Article in German]
K S Saternus, G Dotzauer, G Imhäuser

[The importance of Simon's symptom in cases of hanging (author's transl)]

[Article in German]
K S Saternus et al. Z Rechtsmed. 1979 Oct.

Abstract

Radiological and patho-anatomical investigations of the spines of 32 corpses of persons who had committed suicide by hanging revealed spine damage in 81% of the cases. The cervical spine was damaged in 69%, the lumbar spine in 56% of the cases. The typical damage of the cervical spine is a loosening of the discs at the dorsal side, usually at the level of C 4/5 to C 6/7. In the region of the lumbar spine, bleeding between the (anterior) ventral ligament and the discs is the most frequently observed damage (Simon's sy;mtpom). Simon bleeding is brought about by traction force and is not dependent on the age at death or on any existing degenerative changes of the spine.

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