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J A Turnbull

Publications and source records attributed to J A Turnbull.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Dutch and Scottish clinical forensic medicine: a comparison.

In the light of moves towards European union, we have greater opportunities to benefit from the experiences of our European colleagues and to formulate a 'best practice' policy as a result of the sharing of ideas. This paper compares the work of clinical forensic examiners in Scotland and in the Netherlands. It highlights the lessons learnt from observing Dutch practice and concludes by identifying the ones that could usefully be adopted in Scotland.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Fracture of the hyoid bone in survivors of attempted manual strangulation.

Fractures of the hyoid bone are known to occur in 17-71% of fatalities following manual strangulation, but are infrequently recognised in survivors. Two cases are presented of attempted manual strangulation in young women (aged 30 and 35 years) in which lateral neck X-rays disclosed an isolated fracture of the greater horn of the hyoid bone. In both cases the X-rays were performed because the victim complained of symptoms: one victim complained of pain on swallowing and on neck movement. The other complained of pain on speaking and swallowing. Radiological demonstration of an isolated hyoid fracture is of great evidential value in criminal proceedings in cases of attempted manual strangulation, especially when presentation to the police authorities is delayed and external evidence of neck injury may be minimal. Consideration should be given to obtaining X-rays in those cases where symptoms persist.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Defenestration and dehiscence: suicide or homicide?

Wound rupture or dehiscence is usually encountered clinically following failure of healing after surgery or less often after major trauma. This article describes a case of wound dehiscence resulting from a fall from a height. In this incident there was initial uncertainty concerning the manner of death. In view of a gaping abdominal wound, the police officers first on the scene were suspicious that the deceased had been the victim of an assault.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

The relationship between intelligence and duration of circulatory arrest with deep hypothermia.

A total of 114 children (51 with tetralogy of Fallot, 30 with transposition of the great arteries, and 33 with ventricular septal defect) who had these defects repaired with the use of deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest were assessed for intellectual and neuropsychologic function at an average of 9 to 10 years after the operation. Children with preoperative intellectual handicaps or postoperative neurologic complications were excluded. These children were compared with 54 who had atrial septal defects repaired with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. The only significant difference in the neuropsychologic measures was that the bypass group had reaction times 2 to 3 seconds shorter on average than those of the hypothermic circulatory arrest group. Although there was no significant difference in intelligence quotient between the groups, a relationship between intelligence quotient and arrest time was found. Regression analysis of intelligence quotient against duration of arrest showed a significant decrease in intelligence quotient with increasing arrest time (slope = -0.36; p = 0.002; 95% confidence interval, -0.59, -0.14) indicating a decrease of 3 to 4 intelligence quotient points for each extra 10 minutes of arrest time. It appears that deep hypothermia with circulatory arrest for cardiac operations in children does not fully protect the brain, with a linear relationship existing between the amount of impairment and the duration of circulatory arrest.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Intellectual function and age of repair in cyanotic congenital heart disease.

Eighty one children, comprising 51 with tetralogy of Fallot and 30 children with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) were assessed using the Wechsler intelligence scale for children--revised, and a battery of neuropsychological measures. They were compared with a group of 33 children who had surgery for ventricular septal defect. All children were aged over 10 years when reviewed and were in good health, attending normal schools. No significant negative correlation was found between any component or subtest of the IQ scores and operating age. There was no evidence of a detrimental effect of older age at operation in the children who had cyanotic heart disease as assessed by neuropsychological measures. Delaying surgery for children with TGA or tetralogy of Fallot does not appear to adversely affect their intellectual development. This finding may provide reassurance in cases where surgery has to be delayed for medical, social, or economic reasons.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1994

Parent and teacher perceptions of child behaviour following cardiac surgery.

To determine if parents whose children had undergone successful cardiac surgery perceived their children any differently from parents of children who had not undergone surgery, we used the Achenbach Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) to compare parent and teacher perceptions in these two groups. Subjects included 168 children who had undergone cardiac surgery 4 to 8 years previously and 51 controls. On the behaviour scale of the CBCL, the teacher's mean t scores showed no significant difference between the cardiac and control groups, in contrast to the parents' scores where parents perceived a higher degree of behavioural problems in children who had undergone cardiac surgery. On the social competence scale of the CBCL, the parents scored their children who had undergone cardiac surgery as less socially competent than did the parents of the controls. Teachers' scores showed no difference between groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Modern coronership.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Coroners and Medical Examiners↗