J Korean Androl Soc.  1992 Jun;10(1):43-48.

Comparative study of bulbocarvernous reflex latency and vibration induced erection in neurogenic impotence

• Myeong SC
• Kim HW
• Oh CH
• Kim SC

Abstract

Bulbocavernosus reflex latency time(BCRL) and Vibration induced erection(VIE) were eveluated in 85 impotent patients. Underlying causes of erectile failure were vasculogenic in 20, pelvic injury in 22, spinal cord injury in 16, diabetogenic in 14, psychogenic in 9, intracerebral hemorrhage in 2 and endocrinogenic in 2. The results were as follows. 1. The mean latency time in the 81 patients were 37.2 +/- 8.4m/sec(Left), 36.6 +/- 7.1m/sec(Right). In the remaining 4 patients the bulbocavernosus reflex were absent. 2. Of 9 psychogenic impotence, 1 had abnormal BCRL, 37% of normal BCRL patients were VIE responder. 3. Forty one percent of spinal cord injuries had abnormal BCRL, 67% of abnormal BCRL cases were VIE non responder and 90% of normal BCRL cases were VIE non responder. 4. Of 20 vasculogenic impotence 2 had abnormal BCRL, all of abnormal BCRL cases were VIE responder. Eighty three percent of normal BCRL subjects were VIE non-responder. 5. Forty one percent of pelvic injuries had abnormal BCRL, all of abnormal BCRL cases were VIE non-responder. Ninety two percent of normal BCRL subjects were VIE non-responder. 6. Forty one percent of diabetogenic impotence had abnormal BCRL, 83% of abnormal BCRL patients were VIE non-responder and all of normal BCRL patients were BCRL non-responder. These results show no sattistical differences between VIE and BCRL. But frequency of abnormal BCRL was higher in spinal cord injuries(38%), pelvic injuries(41%), diabetogenic impotence(43%), compared with control group(8%; psychogenic, vasculogenic, intracerebral hemorrhage, endocrinogenic) (p < 0.01). Remarkably delayed BCRL(above 45.6m/sec) cases were not found in control group, but its incidence was increased in spinal cord injuries(32%), pelvic injuries(23%) and diabetogenic impotence(29%). And all of these cases were subnormal VIE responder. In conclusion, all of abnormal BCRL cases are not neurogenic impotence and normal BCRL patients are not neurologically free. If a subject has remarkably delayed BCRL in VIE non-responder, combination of BCRL and VIE is very helpful diagnostic tool for neurogenic impotence.

MeSH Terms

Cerebral Hemorrhage
Erectile Dysfunction*
Female
Humans
Impotence, Vasculogenic
Incidence
Male
Reflex*
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Injuries
Vibration*