Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Erectile dysfunction in spinal cord-injured men: different treatment options

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 20, pages 181–187 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

To evaluate the efficacy, safety and patients' preference of different treatment modalities of ED in men with SCI. Sixty SCI men with ED were included in the study. They were divided into three groups. Group A received sildenafil, group B received intracorporal injection (ICI) and were then shifted to sildenafil and group C used vacuum constriction devices (VCD) and were then shifted to sildenafil. Erection was evaluated before and after each treatment. Ninety percent of patients reported improvement of erection after sildenafil and ICI treatment according to IIEF-EF and only 70% of patients reported improvement in erection with VCD. However, 14 patients reported that they preferred sildenafil due to the easier route of administration. In men with SCI, sildenafil is the most effective treatment and is widely accepted. ICI, VCD therapy in SCI patients should be used according to patient's preference and choice.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Smith EM, Bodner DR . Sexual dysfunction after spinal cord injury. Urol Clin North Am 1993; 20: 535.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Derry FA, Dinsmore WW, Faser M . Efficacy and safety of oral sildenafil (Viagra) in men with erectile dysfunction caused by spinal cord injury. Neurology 1998; 51: 1629.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Shah PJR . Spinal cord injury. In: Carson CC, Kirby RS, Goldstein I (eds). Textbook of Erectile Dysfunction. Isis Medical Media: Oxford, 1999, pp 31.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bors E, Comarr AE . Neurological disturbances of sexual function with special reference to 529 patients with spinal cord injury. Urol Surv 1960; 10: 191–222.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Jackson RW . Sexual rehabilitation after cord injury. Paraplegia 1972; 10: 50–55.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bodner DR, Leffer E, Frost F . The role of intracavernous injection of vasoactive medication for the restoration of erection in spinal cord injured males: A three years follow up. Paraplegia 1992; 30: 118.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Heller L, Reren O, Aloni R, Davidoff G . An open trial of vacuum penile tumescence: constriction therapy for neurological impotence. Paraplegia 1992; 30: 550.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kimoto Y, Iwatsubo E . Penile prosthesis for the management of the neuropathic bladder and sexual dysfunction in spinal cord injury patient as long term follow up. Paraplegia 1994; 32: 336.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Brackett NL, Nash MS, Lynne CM . Male fertility following spinal cord injury: facts and fiction. Phys Therap 1996; 76: 1221.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Courtois F, Charvier K, Raymond D, Eyssette M . Clinical approach to erectile dysfunction in spinal cord injured men. A review of clinical and experimental data. Paraplegia 1995; 33: 628.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Goldstein I, Lue F, Padma Nathan H . Oral sildenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. N Engl J Med 1998; 338: 1397.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Holmgren E, Guiliano FG, Hutting C . Sildenafil (viagra) in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) caused by spinal cord injury: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, flexible-dose, two-way cross over study. Neurology 1998; 1651: 34.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Schmid DM, Sohurch B, Hauri D . Sildenafil in the treatment of sexual dysfunction in spinal cord-injured Male patients. Eur Urol 2000; 38: 184.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Brindley GS . Cavernosal alpha-blockade: a new technique for investigating and treating erectile impotence. Br J Psych 1983; 143: 332.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Deforge D, Blackmer J, Garritty C, Yazdi F, Cronin V, Barrowman N et al. Male erectile dysfunction following spinal cord injury: a systematic review. Spinal Cord 2006; 44: 465–473.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Zaslau S . A simplified pharmacologic erection program for patients with spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 1999; 22: 303.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Denil J, Ohl DA, Smythe C . Vacuum erection device in spinal cord injured men: patient and partner satisfaction. Arch Phys Med Rehab 1996; 77: 750.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lewis RW, Witherington R . External vacuum therapy for erectile dysfunction: use and results. World J Urol 1997; 15: 78.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Morales A, Gingell C, Collins M, wicker PA, Osterloh IH . Clinical safety of oral sildenafil citrate (V1AGRA) in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res 1998; 10: 69.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Le Roy SC, Pryor JL . Severe penile erosion after use of a vacuum suction device for management of erectile dysfunction in a spinal cord injured patient. Case report. Paraplegia 1994; 32: 120.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Carosa E, Martín P, Brandetti F, Di Stasi SM, Francesco Lombardo F, Lenzi A et al. Type V phosphodiesterase inhibitor treatments for erectile dysfunction increase testosterone levels. Clin Endocrinol 2004; 61: 382.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Montague DK, Barada JH, Belker AM, Levine LA, Nadig PW, Sharlip I et al. Clinical guidelines panel on erectile dysfunction: summary report on the treatment of organic erectile dysfunction. J Urol 1996; 156: 2007–2011.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cairo University, Almanial, Cairo, Egypt

    M N Moemen, I Fahmy, M AbdelAal, I Kamel & M M Arafa

  2. AlHoud AlMarsoud Hospital, Egypt

    M Mansour

Authors
  1. M N Moemen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. I Fahmy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M AbdelAal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. I Kamel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M Mansour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M M Arafa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M M Arafa.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moemen, M., Fahmy, I., AbdelAal, M. et al. Erectile dysfunction in spinal cord-injured men: different treatment options. Int J Impot Res 20, 181–187 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901600

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901600

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links