The treatment of electro-acupuncture for patients with erectile dysfunction secondary to spinal cord injury

Objective: To evaluate the effect and safety of electro-acupuncture therapy for patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) secondary to spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: SCI patients with NDU received electro-acupuncture therapy between June 2016 and February 2021. Patients were evaluated at baseline, and week 4. The outcomes including International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), the mean value for rigidity and duration during nocturnal penile tumescence recordings (NPTR). Adverse events were recorded. Results: 12 SCI patients were recruited in this trial. Significant differences between baseline and week 4 after treatment with respect to mean IIEF (9.37 vs. 12.51, P = 0.046), the mean value for rigidity (47.68% vs. 62.03%, P = 0.038) and mean duration (7.02 min vs. 11.46 min, P = 0.042) during NPTR. No patients reported adverse events. Conclusions: electro-acupuncture is effective and safe for SCI patients with ED.