Epididymo-orchitis risk factors in traumatic spinal cord injured patients.
METHODS
Retrospective audit and interview-based study of a traumatic spinal cord injured cohort, assessing the incidence and risk of epididymo-orchitis (E-O).


OBJECTIVE
Assess the potential risk factors for E-O in this cohort (spinal cord injured patients).


METHODS
Janbazan Clinic for Spinal Cord Injuries, Mashad, Iran.


METHODS
A retrospective notes audit of 169 male traumatic spinal cord injured (SCI) patients was performed. In addition, interviews were performed to confirm any equivocal data. The following risk factors were assessed: history of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), urethral stricture, urethral diverticuli, urinary fistula, urinary calculi, spinal injury type, neurogenic bladder type, autonomic dysreflexia, vesico-ureteral reflux, sphincterotomy, vasectomy, marriage status, bladder residual and emptying method, ejaculation, spinal injury level, micturation control, and muscular spasm, which included detrusor, external sphincter or lower limb spasm.


RESULTS
A total of 65 patients from our group (38.5%) had suffered E-O at least once. E-O presented on average, 3.9 years after the SCI. Patients with a history of muscular spasm appeared less likely to develop E-O (P<0.05). None of the vasectomised patients developed E-O. The relation between all the other factors and E-O were not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study has shown that the presence of muscular spasm decreases the risk of E-O, although the mechanism remains unclear. Surprisingly, the other historical risk factors showed no clear relation with E-O occurrence.
Mirsadraee
S
S
Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK.
Mahdavi
R
R
Moghadam
H V
HV
Ebrahimi
M A
MA
Patel
H R H
HR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000502:physiology; D004823:Epididymitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009920:Orchitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000502:physiology; D014563:Urodynamics / Q000502:physiology