PENILE PROSTHESES IN PARAPLEGIC MEN

Objectives To determine the efficacy of penile prostheses in paraplegi c men. Patients and methods Between 1980 and 1992, penile prostheses w ere implanted in 209 paralysed men of whom the records of 179 were eva luable. The indication for implantation was erectile dysfunction, peni le retraction, or a combination of the two. Results The outcome of the implantation of semi-rigid prostheses was worse than that of semi-fle xible or flexible prostheses. Antibiotic treatment and body disinfecti on reduced the infection rate to below that in a normal population. Th e results were satisfactory for patients with either problem and patie nts treated successfully for erectile dysfunction became more self-con fident. Conclusions When paraplegic patients are able to regain sexual activity after successful implantation of a penile prosthesis, their self-confidence is increased, Prostheses might also be useful for pati ents who will not accept self-injection and for those using external c ondom drainage, Penile prostheses clearly have a place in the treatmen t of paralysed men.