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Abstract
Rigor Mortis is an important indicator of post-mortem interval. Though it is a reliable tool of estimating postmortem
interval, it is influenced by many endogenous and exogenous factors. Temperature and humidity are very
important factors, their relation with rigor mortis is Observed In The Present Study.
Key Words: Rigor mortis, Post mortem interval.
Alleged cause of death in 42.6% cases was road
traffic accidents, 11.6% deaths were due to
Introduction:
poisoning, 9.2% victims had died due to natural
Estimation of time since death is an achilles heel in
disease, 9% due to burns, railway accidents formed
forensic medicine due to great individual variability
6.8% of the share and miscellaneous other causes
of the postmortem changes as a consequence of
contributed 20.8%.
many influencing factors. Rigor mortis is one such
66.2% cases were observed in 21-50 years of age
criterion which is being widely used to determine
group in which rigor mortis lasted longer as
postmortem interval. A uniform time of appearance
compared to 0-20 years (12%) and above 50 years
and disappearance of rigor mortis cannot be made
(17.8%) age.
applicable throughout a vast country like India where
Effect of temperature and humidity:
different weather conditions exist throughout its
In the months of April to June, fully developed rigor
various parts at a given time. The present study was
mortis lasted from 11 hours 25 minutes to 28 hours
done to study the modifying effect of temperature
25 minutes while in the quarter of July to September,
and humidity on the development and extent of rigor
complete rigor mortis lasted from 17 hours 15
mortis.
minutes to 34 hours 20 minutes. The maximum
Material And Methods:
temperature during these months ranged from
500 medicolegal autopsies were selected where the
46.5C to 26.6C while minimum temperature
exact time of death was known and the body had
ranged between 27.6C to 12C. Relative humidity
been kept at prevailing room temperature. To
levels in these months varied between 95% to 31%
observe the effect of atmospheric and seasonal
as shown in figure I.
conditions, the period of study was divided into four
In the months of October to December, fully
groups corresponding to the four seasons. A good
developed rigor mortis lasted from 16 hours 25
quality digital hygrometer was used to note the daily
minutes to 61 hours 5 minutes while from January to
readings of temperature and humidity. Presence or
March it lasted from 19 hours 5 minutes to 50 hours
absence of rigor mortis and its extent was noticed in
15 minutes. The maximum temperature during these
both voluntary and involuntary muscles. In the joints,
months ranged from 35.4C to 13.6C while
appearance and disappearance of rigor mortis was
minimum temperature ranged between 20C to 2.6
noted by seeing their movements for resistance
and the relative humidity varied between 97% to
offered.
65% as shown in Figure I.
Observations:
Time of appearance and disappearance: In the
In the present study 78.4% cases studied were
present study, it was observed that the average
males and 21.6% subjects were females. 56.2%
duration for onset of rigor mortis was 8 hours and 39
victims belonged to rural area as compared to
minutes. The maximum duration in which rigor
43.6% urbanites while residence of 0.2% males was
mortis had begun to appear in the body was 1 hour
unknown.
and 35 minutes while the longest duration by which
49
Jan-March
Oct-Dec
July-Sept
April-June
1-12
12-24
24-36
>36
Sequence:
In 94.6% cases rigor mortis was found to appear first
in the eyelids followed by lower jaw, neck, upper
limbs, trunk, lower limbs and lastly fingers and toes.
It disappeared in the same fashion. However, in
5.4% cases sequence was found to be erratic.
Site of recovery: In cases recovered from open
environment, the average duration of onset of rigor
mortis was early (6 hours 56 minutes) and average
duration of disappearance was also early (24 hours
44 minutes) as compared to dead bodies recovered
from closed environment.
Nourishment: In the present study it was observed
that in well nourished individuals, the average
duration of appearance of rigor mortis was early (6
hours 16 minutes) and it lasted for a short time (15
hours 45 minutes) as compared to moderately and
50
2.
3.
4.
Poor (4.4%)
Naked (4.8%)
Clothed
(95.2%)
Present
(8.6%)
Absent
(91.4%)
Present
(7.6%)
Absent
(92.4%)
Muscular
activity
Moderate
(90.8%)
Illness
Onset
6.56
7.22
6.16
7.16
7.27
6.50
7.20
5.59
7.36
8.05
7.21
Complete
19.08
17.21
15.45
17.13
19.16
18.09
17.20
20.29
17.16
18.33
17.17
Disappearance
25.44
34.08
30.51
29.30
27.17
30.15
39.10
28.32
23.33
31.03
5.
References :
1.
Clothing
Well (4.8%)
Nourishment
Closed
(61.20%)
Site of recovery
Open
(38.80%)
Average duration
6.
7.
8.
9.
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