Related Experiment Videos
Impotence following pelvic fracture.
M Ellison1, G A Timberlake, M D Kerstein
1Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112.
The Journal of Trauma
|May 1, 1988
Summary
Motor vehicle accidents causing pelvic fractures can lead to male impotence. Vasculogenic trauma is a key factor in persistent erectile dysfunction following such injuries.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Trauma Surgery
- Andrology
Background:
- Pelvic fractures from motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) are associated with significant morbidity.
- Erectile dysfunction is a potential complication, but its underlying mechanisms and prevalence require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and potential causes of impotence in men with pelvic fractures due to MVAs.
- To correlate specific injury patterns and physiological parameters with the development of erectile dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of 42 male patients with pelvic fractures from MVAs within 48 hours of injury.
- Assessment included hormone levels, penile-brachial arterial index (PBI), and bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) testing.
- Follow-up assessments were conducted for up to 23 months.
Main Results:
- Hormone levels were normal in all tested patients.
- Abnormal PBI was observed in 50% (21/42) of patients.
- Among those with abnormal PBI, 13/21 had abnormal BCR, with associated paraplegia (4) or urethral injuries (9).
- Persistent impotence was noted in patients with evidence of vasculogenic trauma.
- Only 2/21 patients with normal vascular, hormonal, and neurological tests reported impotence.
Conclusions:
- Motor vehicle accident-related pelvic fractures can cause significant rates of impotence.
- Vasculogenic and neurological damage are primary contributors to erectile dysfunction in this cohort.
- Normal vascular, hormonal, and neurological assessments at initial evaluation are highly predictive of preserved erectile function.