Skip to main content
eScholarship
Open Access Publications from the University of California

Thoracic Compression Fracture as a Result of Taser® Discharge

Abstract

A conducted electrical device (CED), usually Taser®, is commonly used by law enforcement officers to aid in the incapacitation of subjects. While CEDs are considered “safe” for use on subjects, adverse events may rarely occur. We report a case of a 23-year-old male presenting with severe back pain following deployment of a CED with resulting acute compression fractures of the thoracic sixth, seventh, and eighth vertebral bodies. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the third case of traumatic injury from CED discharge to be reported in the literature since 1995.

Main Content
For improved accessibility of PDF content, download the file to your device.
Current View