Combined vertebral artery and internal jugular vein transection by broken beer bottle: A forensic case report

Sharp force injuries to the neck are frequently fatal due to the high density of vital structures. While knives are the most common implements, broken glass bottles are readily available in public settings and can act as lethal stabbing weapons. Most documented cases describe superficial wounds or isolated vascular lesions. We present the first forensic case report of combined vertebral artery and internal jugular vein transection from a glass bottle assault. A 39-year-old man was found dead on a public street, surrounded by blood and scattered glass fragments. Witnesses reported that the assailant smashed a 330-mL green glass beer bottle before stabbing the victim in the neck. Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) revealed a latero-cervical wound (75 × 40 mm) extending from C3 to C7, complete transection of the left vertebral artery at C6, and multiple irregular radiopaque fragments embedded in surrounding soft tissues. Autopsy confirmed these findings and additionally revealed multiple discontinuities of the left internal jugular vein, dissection of the vagus nerve, and extensive hemorrhagic infiltration of adjacent muscles. Numerous greenish glass fragments were recovered from the wound tract. Death resulted from irreversible haemorrhagic shock due to combined arterial and venous injuries. This case highlights the destructive potential of broken glass bottles, the diagnostic value of PMCT in detecting vascular damage and foreign bodies prior to autopsy, and the clinical relevance of recognising such rapidly fatal injuries. From a preventive standpoint, replacing glassware with shatter-resistant materials in high-risk public venues could reduce the incidence of similar lethal assaults.