Chong MAM, González RJL, González MLM, Moirón VV

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 1-10
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ABSTRACT

Introduction: in the clinical evaluation of the spinal cord injury, the bulbocavernosus reflex is of cardinal importance because it defines stages in the course of the injury, as well as allows the classification of the spinal cord injury (complete and incomplete). Objectives: to evaluate the usefulness in spinal cord injured patients, and to correlate clinical and neurophysiological examination of bulbocavernosus reflex. Method: the sample consisted of 20 patients with spinal cord injury, aged between 18 and 54 years, who underwent clinical and neurophysiological exploration of bulbocavernosus reflex, after classification with the ASIA scale. Results: the main causes of spinal cord injury are traffic accidents and gunshot injuries. By correlating the level of injury with severity according to the ASIA scale, we found that there is no relationship between the lesional level and severity, and there is a high statistical significance between the ASIA scale and findings in the neurophysiological examination of the reflex (Fisher's exact probability p = 0.0048). Conclusions: the evaluation of bulbocavernosus reflex in spinal cord injured patients is of great relevance in determining the integrity of the sacral spinal cord and the reflex arch involving nerve roots, since its presence or not has a significant prognostic value in rehabilitation possibilities.