Some Complications Arising During Electrical Convulsive Therapy

Abstract

In 1938 Wespi (1) in Germany and Stalker (2) in this country reported cases of crush fracture of the spine following cardiazol convulsion therapy. It was not until then, some four years after its introduction, that attention was focused on the risk of fracture in this form of therapy. During 1939 alarming reports appeared, especially in the United States, regarding the occurrence of such mechanical injury. Polatin et al. (3) radiographed 51 cases following metrazol convulsive therapy and reported spinal fractures in 43 per cent. Bennett and Fitzpatrick (4) in a similarly treated series of cases recorded 47 per cent. spinal fractures. However, the latter figure was obtained from a series of only 18 cases, and should therefore be accepted with reserve. In this country H. A. Palmer (5) in a series of 20 cases treated by cardiazol shock therapy found spinal fractures in no less than 5 cases (25 per cent.).