The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology
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Am J Forensic Med Pathol · Sep 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialWeight force during prone restraint and respiratory function.
Prone maximal restraint position (PMRP, also known as hogtie or hobble) is often used by law enforcement and prehospital personnel on violent combative individuals in the field setting. Weight force is often applied to the restrained individual's back and torso during the restraint process. We sought to determine the effect of 25 and 50 lbs weight force on respiratory function in human subject volunteers placed in the PMRP. ⋯ FVC and FEV1 were significantly lower in all restraint positions compared with sitting but not significantly different between restraint positions with and without weight force. Moreover, mean oxygen saturation levels were above 95% and mean end-tidal CO2 levels were below 45 mm Hg for all positions. We conclude that PMRP with and without 25 and 50 lbs of weight force resulted in a restrictive pulmonary function pattern but no evidence of hypoxia or hypoventilation.
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Retained bullets and fragments following a civilian gunshot injury are quite frequent in practical neurosurgery. It is usually possible to extract the foreign body surgically, while rare cases are conservatively treated because of technical reasons. ⋯ We consider that in the migrating bullet fragment cases, if there is no contraindication, the most reasonable treatment is its urgent surgical removal. This report reveals a supratentorial bullet migrating to the infratentorial contralateral area, and related literature considering the different mechanisms of migration is discussed.
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Am J Forensic Med Pathol · Sep 2004
Case ReportsReenactment of circumstances in deaths related to restraint.
Reenactment of the circumstances in deaths associated with restraint, utilizing participants and witnesses while memories are fresh, may help death investigators more accurately determine the cause of death. Two recent deaths in Ventura County that occurred during restraint are discussed. ⋯ Deaths associated with restraint often have nonspecific autopsy findings. Timely reenactment of the circumstances of deaths associated with restraint can help death investigators more accurately determine the probable cause of death in these difficult cases.