External vacuum device therapy for spinal cord injured males with erectile dysfunction

Neurogenic factors contributing to erectile dysfunction may be found in up to 20 per cent of organically impotent men. Although many options have been suggested for the treatment of some of these problems in male patients, most are invasive and have substantial morbidity. Our study group comprised 32 patients with spinal cord injury. These 32 patients with neurogenic impotence, who had been injured at least one year previously and had a regular sexual partner were evaluated. We selected external vacuum therapy as the treatment modality. During the initial phase of the study, six patients refused treatment due to negative cultural perception and they were excluded from the study group. Four patients discontinued treatment because of minor complications such as ecchymoses, petechiae and lack of motivation. Our data suggest that external vacuum therapy is a feasible, safe, noninvasive alternative and possibly a better initial treatment for the management of impotence secondary to spinal cord injury.