The relationship between injury mechanism and sexual dysfunction in surgically treated pelvic fractures

Purpose The aim of the study was to identify the incidence of new sexual dysfunction reported by the patient in surgical treatment of pelvic ring injuries, and to describe the relationship between new sexual dysfunction and type of fracture. Methods Ninety-five patients who were operated for pelvic fracture were included in the study. Patients were evaluated according to age, gender, marital status, body mass index, trauma mechanism, fracture classification, genitourinary injury, accompanying injury, injury severity score, surgical technique, fixation material, duration of operation, functional outcomes, blood loss, complications, and sexual dysfunction. Functional outcomes were assessed with Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI), International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF5), Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX), and Modified Majeed’s pelvic outcomes grading scale (MPS). Results Genitourinary symptoms were erectile dysfunction (ED) in 13 men, ejaculatory dysfunction in 9 men, and dyspareunia in 23 women. Urethral stricture developed in 4 males and 1 female with the urethral injury. FSFI score, ASEX score, and MPS score showed the statistically significant difference between the fracture types ( p = 0.021, p = 0.032 and p = 0.020, respectively). There were no significant difference between fracture types in terms of the IIEF5 score, and no significant relationship between fracture type and ED development ( p = 0.141). Conclusion Anteroposterior compression (APC) is the most common cause of sexual dysfunction in both sexes, independent of surgery. In addition, the most common cause of ED in men is vertical shear (VS). Especially patients with APC and VS injuries should be multidisciplinary evaluated with gynecology, urology, and psychiatry departments.