SENSORY CONDUCTION-VELOCITY OF DORSAL NERVE OF THE PENIS DURING PHARMACOERECTION - A MORE PHYSIOLOGICAL TECHNIQUE

Objective: Sensory conduction velocity (SCV) of the dorsal nerve of th e penis is technically difficult to perform at rest and very slow SCV has been observed in the literature. This study evaluates the effect o f pharmacoerection on the SCV measurement. Methods: Twenty-four men, 1 6 with a normal neurologic examination, 8 with a diabetic neuropathy, were studied at rest and after a 20-mu g injection of prostaglandin E( 1). Results: Only 5 subjects had a recordable potential at rest. The m ean SCV increased from 32.3 +/- 6.7 to 47.4 +/- 8.2 m/s after injectio n. Nine had only a recordable potential after injection. Ten had no po tential at all, but 6 of them had a diabetic neuropathy. Conclusion: P harmacoerection was helpful in 37.5% of the subjects to obtain a senso ry potential. Moreover, pharmacoerection may be the best way of calcul ating dorsal nerve SCV, as 47.4 m/s is what should be expected for a l arge myelinated nerve. This may be due to a correct interelectrode dis tance measurement as full tumescence may straighten the nerve at an in dividual and physiological length.