The Routine use of Muscular Relaxants Prior to Electrical Convulsive Therapy

Abstract

It is probable that the incidence of vertebral fractures during E.C.T. is greater than was formerly thought to be the case. Meschan, Scruggs and Colhoun (1950) found vertebral compression fractures in over 35 per cent. of 212 cases treated with E.C.T. Plattner (1949), in a series of 500 cases (200 men and 300 women), found fractures in 58 (37 men and 21 women). In 20 of his cases E.C.T. had to be abandoned on account of the fracture.