No abstract

It is important to consider a differential diagnosis between paralysis on an organic basis and paralysis and disability due to psychological mechanisms in people with physical impairment secondary to trauma, without evidence of organic etiology. We review the most dramatic type of conversion disorder (CD)-'Conversion Motor Paralysis'. Recent important medical literature concerning the accepted treatment and rehabilitation management will be reviewed and discussed. The inter-disciplinary in-patient team management approach in a rehabilitation setting offers the benefits of a comprehensive assessment and treatment. The diagnosis is temporary and conditional, since there may be a long delay until the appearance of organic findings. A complete medical assessment is essential in order to rule out any possibility of an organic etiology. In as many as 25% to 50% of patients diagnosed as conversion, an organic medical diagnosis was found.

Study design: Male infertility caused by anejaculation is common among patients with spinal cord injury (SCIP). The fertility options for SCIP have improved impressively over the past 10 years. We present the Israeli experience in the treatment of infertility in a large series of SCIP. The issues which are addressed include the treatment of ejaculatory dysfunction, seminal quality and fertility management in SCIP. Setting: Sexual rehabilitation clinic, Neuro-Rehabilitation department, Sheba Medical Center, Israel. Methods: Between June 1992 and May 1998, a total of 84 consecutive SCIP were treated in our clinic with electro-ejaculation (EEJ), representing a sample of the SCIP population, composed mostly of young men traumatically injured. The patients have sustained dierent levels and completeness of spinal injury. Among the patients 33 were interested in achieving pregnancy (39.3%), while the rest were interested in determining fertility potential for family. With EEJ, a low-current stimulation of the ejaculatory organs via a rectal probe is done. The collected semen is used for fertility determination or for fertilization. Results: Eighty-four patients were treated by EEJ. Mean age was 31.3 and mean age at injury was 21.7. There were 29 cervical, 50 thoracic and ®ve lumbar lesions. Sixty-three had complete injury (ASIA A) and 21 incomplete (ASIA B -15, ASIC C -5, ASIA D -1). Fifty-nine had upper motor neuron lesions, and 25 had lower motor neuron. A total of 355 stimulations were performed. Ejaculate was obtained in all patients in 350 stimulations (98.6%), and sperm was present in 74 patients (88.1%) in 296 of the stimulations (83.4%). Fairly good numbers of spermatozoa were obtained, whereas sperm motility and morphology of spermatozoa were low in most cases. A signi®cant dierence in sperm count, motility and morphology was noted between antegrade and retrograde samples. No signi®cant improvement in sperm quality after four repeated consecutive stimulations was noted in 38 SCIP. Side eects were minor and encountered in 16 patients (19.1%). Out of 33 couples who wished to achieve pregnancy, 26 reached the stage of insemination. Four pregnancies were achieved after 33 cycles of InUterine-Insemination (pregnancy rate 28.6% per couple), and 15 after 68 cycles of In-VitroFertilization (micromanipulation) (pregnancy rate of 68.75% per couple). In all, of 101 conception attempts 23 were successful, resulting in pregnancies in 18 couples, and accounting for an overall pregnancy rate of 70% per couple. Conclusion: The high percentage of pregnancies imply that, despite the typically poor sperm motility noted in EEJ, rectal probe EEJ combined with assisted reproductive techniques, and performed by a team approach, is an ecient and safe technique for treating infertility among SCIP.