Quantitative Analysis of Bulbocavernosus Reflex Activity in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury.

, Moon, Hye Jeong; , Ko, Hyun Yoon; , Shin, Yong Beom; , Sohn, Hyun Joo; , Chang, Jae Hyeok

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2009;33(2):194-197.

Moon, Hye Jeong , Ko, Hyun Yoon , Shin, Yong Beom , Sohn, Hyun Joo , Chang, Jae Hyeok

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Korea. drkohy@gmail.com

척수손상 환자에서 구해면체 반사 활동성의 정량적 분석

문혜정,고현윤,신용범,손현주,장재혁

부산대학교 의학전문대학원 재활의학교실

Abstract

Objective
To quantify activities of bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) using root mean square (RMS) value of motor unit action potentials in power spectrum analysis.
Method
Twenty-six male patients with spinal cord injury were studied. The BCRs were evaluated by one examiner. The patients were assigned into absent, hypoactive and normal reflex groups according to the degree of BCR acti-vity. The electrophysiological activities of the BCRs were evaluated by the RMS value of the motor unit action poten-tials in power spectrum analysis recorded from the bulbo-cavernosus muscle using concentric needle electrode.
Results
The BCR by clinical examination was absent in 6 patients, hypoactive in 10 patients and normal in 10 patients. RMS values of absent, hypoactive and normal BCR groups were 15.1±3.6 uV, 26.7±13.2 uV and 36.3±4.8 uV, respec-tively. RMS values of three groups were significant different (p=0.028) and showed significant correlation (r=0.714, p= 0.005).
Conclusion
There was strong correlation between RMS value of motor unit action potentials of bulbocavernosus muscle and degree of BCR activities estimated by clinical examination in patients with spinal cord injury. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2009; 33: 194-197)

Key Words: Bulbocavernosus reflex, Root mean square, Spinal cord injury