Testosterone replacement therapy and motor function in men with spinal cord injury: a retrospective analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate motor function in men with spinal cord injury (SCI) given testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).


METHODS
American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) rehabilitation discharge motor index scores were compared between men with SCI given TRT (testosterone cypionate, 200 mg, monthly; n = 50) and a comparison group (n = 480) in a retrospective study. Covariates included admission motor and FIM scores, level of injury (paraplegia/tetraplegia), days since injury, and age.


RESULTS
ASIA discharge motor scores for ASIA impairment scale grades C and D were significantly different (P < 0.05) in men with incomplete SCI given TRT, relative to the comparison group. The covariate-adjusted mean discharge score for the TRT group was higher than for the comparison group. There were no significant differences in discharge FIM scores (P = 0.34) for men with incomplete injuries and no differences in the adjusted discharge ASIA motor scores (P = 0.92) or adjusted discharge FIM scores (P = 0.16) for men with complete injuries.


CONCLUSIONS
The data support a relationship between TRT and strength gains in men with residual motor function after SCI. Prospective studies are necessary to validate these findings.
Clark
Mary J
MJ
Department of Health Psychology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
Petroski
Gregory F
GF
Mazurek
Micah O
MO
Hagglund
Kristofer J
KJ
Sherman
Ashley K
AK
Lammy
Andrew B
AB
Childers
Martin K
MK
Acuff
Michael E
ME
D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013739:Testosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone