Turkish Neurosurgery 2022 , Vol 32 , Num 3
Comparison of Preoperative and Postoperative Sexual Dysfunction in Male Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation
Ceyda UZUN SAHIN1,Merve AYDIN2,Selcuk KALKISIM3,Handan SAHIN4,Filiz CIVIL ARSLAN5
1Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Vocational School of Health Services, Department of Medical Services and Techniques, Rize, Turkey
2Karadeniz Technical University, Department of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Trabzon, Turkey
3Rize State Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Rize, Turkey
4Karadeniz Technical University, Department of , Trabzon, Turkey
5Karadeniz Technical University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Trabzon, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.35810-21.2 AIM: To compare preoperative and postoperative sexual dysfunction in male patients diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

MATERIAL and METHODS: This study was conducted in a single group with a pretest?posttest design. The sample included 32 male patients with LDH admitted to the neurosurgery outpatient clinic of a state hospital between August 1, 2019 and November 1, 2020 and who were about to undergo operation. The data were collected using a questionnaire form developed by the researchers, the Golombok?Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Descriptive statistical methods, Mann?Whitney U test, Wilcoxon test, and Spearman correlation analysis were used to evaluate the data. Significance was evaluated at the level of p < 0.05.

RESULTS: Before LDH surgery, male patients had problems with sub-dimensions of sexual function, such as frequency, communication, avoidance, touching, impotence, and premature ejaculation. A significant improvement was achieved after the operation in the communication sub-dimension and pain levels. The mean preoperative and postoperative VAS scores of the patients were 8.18 ± 1.20 and 1.28 ± 1.08, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Lumbar disc surgery has a positive effect on sexual function and reduces pain levels. Since there is a strong relationship between LDH and sexual dysfunction, taking sexual history from patients should be part of routine medical history, and psychiatric care and consultation should be offered if necessary. Keywords : Lumbar disc herniation, Sexual dysfunction, Male patients, Golombok?Rust inventory of sexual satisfaction

Corresponding author : Merve AYDIN, merveaydin@ktu.edu.tr