@article{ref1,
title="The Association between Laminectomy and Drug Overdose Deaths: A Matched Case-Control Study",
journal="Academic forensic pathology",
year="2015",
author="Inusah, S. and Griffin, R.L. and Gorman, E.F. and Davis, G.G. and McGwin, G.",
volume="5",
number="4",
pages="662-666",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between death due to drug overdose and a history of laminectomy. <br><br>DESIGN: A retrospective matched case-control study of 234 drug overdose decedents from the Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner's Office in Birmingham, Alabama were matched 1:2 on age to a control group consisting of decedents with any manner of death (accident, natural, suicide, homicide, or undetermined). Laminectomy cases were identified by the presence of a linear surgical scar near the spine in an orientation and place typical for a laminectomy. <br><br>RESULTS: Decedents whose cause of death was a drug overdose were 2.43 times (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.37-4.31) more likely to have a laminectomy scar compared to decedents in a control group consisting of all manners of death. This association held for males (odds ratio [OR] 2.34; 95% CI: 1.09-5.04) and whites (OR 2.35; 95% CI 1.06-5.18) after stratification. <br><br>CONCLUSION: In the absence of an obvious cause for death, the presence of a laminectomy scar suggests the possibility of a fatal overdose and is a factor to consider in favor of performing an autopsy and toxicological analysis for drugs of abuse. © 2015 Academic Forensic Pathology International.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1925-3621",
doi="10.23907/2015.070",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.23907/2015.070"
}