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abstract
Fifty-one male patients with prior pelvic fracture completed a Brief Sexual Function Inventory questionnaire (BSFI) 2 years postinjury. Responses were compared to those of 53 men with ankle fractures. Patients with pelvic fracture scored significantly worse than patients with ankle fracture. Patients with pelvic fracture scored poorly on sex drive, erection, ejaculation, and satisfaction with sex life. Older patients had significantly worse sex function scores than younger patients. Sexual dysfunction is common after pelvic fracture, and many facets of sex life are affected. The BSFI was well accepted, and is a useful screening tool for identifying patients with sexual dysfunction.
Sexual dysfunction after pelvic fracture can have a profound negative effect on a patient's life. Despite its importance, this subject has received little attention.5"7 Orthopedic investigators focus primarily on the outcome of the bony injury,8"11 whereas urologists are concerned with urethra or bladder injuries that occasionally accompany pelvic fracturé.12"21 Female reproductive and sexual function after pelvic fracture has been thoroughly documented1,3 and the physiologic cause of erectile dysfunction in male pelvic fracture patients has been reviewed.5 However, most reports regarding male sexual function after pelvic fracture are hindered by small sample size,7 short follow-up,2,6,13 or they provide only a cursory examination of the subject.8,9,13,18 Although the outcome of fracture care and urethral repair is important, to the patient, the question "what will my sex life be like?" also is important.
This study reports the sexual function of male patients with prior pelvic fracture who are at least 2 years rx)stinjury. This study was approved by our medical center's institutional review board.
Materials and Methods
Trauma registry records between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 1998 were examined to identify male patients with pelvic fracture who were a minimum of 2 years postinjury. The registry identified 195 male patients with pelvic fracture who survived their initial hospital stay. Valid addresses or telephone numbers for 118 patients were unavailable. The remaining 77 patients had valid contact information and were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding sexual function.
The Brief Sexual Function Inventory (BSFI)22 is a self-administered questionnaire designed to elicit information regarding male sex drive, erection, ejaculation, perceptions of problems with sexual function, and overall satisfaction with sex life (Figure). This questionnaire has been...