External Sphincterotomy: Its Effect on Erections

Abstract

External urethral sphincterotomy on 129 paraplegics had little effect on erections. In the 101 patients with post-injury erections only 2 had cessation of erectile capacity. Subjectively, 16 per cent had partial loss and 13 per cent had an increase. The remaining 69 per cent had no change. When the data were correlated with level and completeness of injury, age, time since injury, time since sphincterotomy, postoperative delayed hemorrhage and effect on leg and bladder spasms, no conclusions could be drawn concerning the etiology of altered erections.