Cord Injury and Ejaculatory Dysfunction in Young Men in a Third Level Hospital of Cali-Colombia

Abstract

The level of spinal cord injury (SCI) has been associated with ejaculatory dysfunction and mortality. The relation of ejaculatory dysfunction with the severity of the SCI is not fully studied. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Cali, Colombia to evaluate aspects related to the sexuality of patients with SCI. Sociodemographic, clinical characteristics and sexual behavior were evaluated. A univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis was performed. Results: 41 patients were evaluated. The mean age of the participants was 36.0±13.3 years old. 34 (82.9%) were male. 33 (80.5%) had cervical or thoracic lesions. 21 (53.7%) were by firearms. Most patients stated that the trauma kept them from engaging in satisfactory sexual activity in spite of having sexual desire. 16 (39.2%) had severe SCI (Type A, ASIA Scale). 40 (50.6%) had a severe compromise of their sexuality. 19 (46.3%) observed impossibility to ejaculate. Of the male patients, 19 (55.9%) had no ejaculation, with no differences according to the level of lesion, however, there was a difference in ejaculatory involvement according to the type of lesion (78.9% in type A, 42.86% in type C and 0% in type E) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Spinal cord injury was more frequent in young male population, mainly with cervical or thoracic lesions by firearms. In patients with SCI the impossibility to ejaculate was observed only according to the severity and type of lesion and no with the level of the lesion.