Neurophysiological investigations in potent and impotent men. Assessment of bulbocavernosus reflex latencies and somatosensory evoked potentials.

A multidisciplinary investigation was carried out on 130 patients with erectile dysfunction. The bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) latency times were evaluated in all patients and in 116 the somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) were also assessed. BCR latency times were examined in 39 potent control patients and the SSEP were measured in 30 members of this group. There were no abnormal findings in the control group. Of the 130 patients with erectile dysfunction, 65 had anomalies in the BCR measurements and 36 of 116 patients had abnormal SSEP findings. When compared with the control group, 76 of 130 patients with erectile disorders (66%) had irregularities in BCR latency times and/or SSEP. As a result of these findings, lesions of the somatic penile innervation are considered to be one of the many causes of erectile dysfunction.