Chainsaw-related sub-decapitation: case report and literature review

Suicides by power saws are rare. Instruments like chainsaws and table saws are capable of causing quite extensive injuries, up to and including sub-decapitation. In this paper, we describe a case of sub- decapitation committed by a young man using a petrol chainsaw, probably by placing the blade on his left shoulder. The result was a deep wound to the neck, with injuries to the muscles, large vessels, airways and the cervical spine. In addition to the character- istics of the wounds, the autopsy established that the man was under the inquence of hallucinogenic substances, casting doubt on whether it was a genuine suicide. A discussion of the peculiar aspects of this type of death is also provided, given that it is not always easy to distinguish between murder, suicide and accident. A literature review of all cases of suicide involving the use of saws is also reported, to compare all aspects of these cases.