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Investigation of triticeal cartilage anatomy in forensic autopsy cases

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to determine the presence and morphology of triticeal cartilage (TrC) through autopsy cases and to examine its relationship with age, gender, and height, thus contributing to clinical practices and forensic perspective.

Materials and methods

 Our study was conducted on a total of 84 autopsy cases between the ages of 20–90 years who came to Tokat Forensic Medicine Institute. The laryngeal region was palpated to determine whether TrC was present. The dimensions of the TrC and the length of the upper horn of thyroid cartilage (UHThC) were measured with precise digital calipers, and its weight was measured with an accurate digital scale.

Results

The presence of TrC was identified in 56% of the autopsy cases examined. The prevalence of TrC was higher in males (61.9%) than in females (23.1%). It was determined to be bilateral in 45% of the cases and unilateral in 11%. TrCs had a cylindrical shape in 68.2%, an oval shape in 25.8%, and a pyramidal shape in 5.8%. The average weight of TrC was 67.93 ± 33.91 mg on the right side and 72.67 ± 32.23 mg on the left. As the individual’s height increased, the weight of TrC increased (p < 0.001). Additionally, there was a strong positive correlation between the lengths of TrC and UHThC and the individual’s height (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

TrC may be confused with UHThC fractures. Therefore, we believe that knowledge of the presence and morphology of TrC will contribute to clinical approaches and forensic cases, especially in relation to the neck region.

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tokat Forensic Medicine Branch Directorate, Forensic Medicine Institute, Tokat, 60100, Turkey

    Ahmet Depreli

  2. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, 60100, Turkey

    Sadik Bugrahan Simsek, Sefa Sonmez, Berna Dogan, Merve Nur Ozgen, Betul Kubra Orgev & Hilal Irmak Sapmaz

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  1. Ahmet Depreli
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  2. Sadik Bugrahan Simsek
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  3. Sefa Sonmez
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  4. Berna Dogan
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  5. Merve Nur Ozgen
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  6. Betul Kubra Orgev
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  7. Hilal Irmak Sapmaz
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Contributions

AD: Protocol/project development, Data collection or management, Manuscript writing/editing, SBS: Data analysis, Manuscript writing/editing, SS: Data analysis, Manuscript writing/editing, BD: Data analysis, Manuscript writing/editing, MNO: Data analysis, Manuscript writing/editing, BKO: Manuscript writing/editing, HIS: Data analysis, Manuscript writing/editing, All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sadik Bugrahan Simsek.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Informed consent

A formal informed consent procedure was waived due to the retrospective nature of this study.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed in the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Approval for the study was obtained from the Forensic. Medicine Institute (21589509/2023/109) and Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research Ethics Committee (23-KAEK-020).

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Depreli, A., Simsek, S.B., Sonmez, S. et al. Investigation of triticeal cartilage anatomy in forensic autopsy cases. Surg Radiol Anat (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-024-03375-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-024-03375-0

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