Safety and efficacy of a new device for inducing ejaculation in men with spinal cord injuries
SM Castle, LC Jenkins, E Ibrahim, TC Aballa, CM Lynne and NL Brackett
Study design: Prospective case series.
Objectives: Male infertility is a common sequela of spinal cord injury (SCI). Fatherhood is a goal in this group of young patients; however, most are anejaculatory. Penile vibratory stimulation is recommended as the first line of treatment for this condition. Our study evaluated the safety and efficacy of a new device designed to induce ejaculation in these patients.
Setting: The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Miami, FL, USA.
Methods: The Viberect-X3 (Reflexonic, Frederick, MD, USA) was applied to 30 consecutive anejaculatory men with SCI whose level of injury was T10 and rostral.
Results: The ejaculatory success was 77% (23/30). No adverse events occurred, and there were no malfunctions of the device.
Conclusion: In this first report on the efficacy of the Viberect-X3 for treatment of anejaculation in men with SCI, we conclude that the device is safe and effective for inducing ejaculation in men with SCI. Recommendation of the Viberect-X3 versus other devices intended for this purpose should not be made until randomized controlled trials are performed.
Spinal Cord (2014) 52, S27–S29; doi:10.1038/sc.2014.110