[Lesions of the cervical spine caused by suicidal hanging (author's transl)].

In 107 cases of suicidal hanging the CVC was investigated systematically. A frequency of lesions at a rate of 65% was found. There were only soft-tissue-lesions with the maximum in C 5/6. The 2nd maximum was the occipito-atlanto-axis-region (C 0/2). This distribution depends on traction. Particularly in the dorsal part the loss of lordosis results from traction. The lesion of C 0/2 is caused by tension due to the weight of the head or by hyperextension due to submental position of the node. 20% of cases showed additional lesions in various locations, which are thought to be results of terminal convulsions.