The Impact of Vacuum Constrictive Device on the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction in Spinal Cord Injured patients

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common problematic disease in spinal cord injured patients. The effect of this disease on the life quality in patients has been well stated. Therefore, this study examined the impact of the vacuum constrictive device (VCD).Methods: The total number of sixty patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) were recruited at different levels of the spinal column, complaining of ED, who had not shown a positive response to sildenafil. Based on the international index of erectile function (IIEF) and single questioning patient's partner regarding the man's ability to perform vaginal penetration (APVP), the diagnosis of ED and treatment efficacy were evaluated.Results: The mean age was ۲۹.۲±۵.۳۱ years old. It significantly improved the IIEF score between two target groups of pre-treatments (۷.۸۶±۱.۳۸) and post-treatment (۲۴.۴۱±۴.۷۰). IIEF scores of patients with APVP positive were signed (p<۰.۰۰۱) improved between pre-treatment (۷.۹۵±۱.۳۸) and post-treatment (۲۶.۳۵±۲.۲۶). Final ۴۸ had successful sexual intercourse, and ۱۲ patients needed accessory treatments due to spouse virginity.Conclusion: A vacuum constrictive device could be suggested as a suitable second-line of ED due to spinal cord injury. The VCD is effective in many spinal cords injured patients with erectile dysfunction. The devices were not accepted by any patients but significantly affected sexual function and sexual satisfaction. Vacuum constrictive is a choice of treatment in SCI men, along with other options for treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Keywords:

Erectile Dysfunction , Spinal cord injury , Vacuum constrictive device , virginity