Bulbocavernosus reflex latencies and somatosensory evoked potentials after pudendal nerve stimulation in the diagnosis of impotence.

The bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) was examined in 39 normal potent men and in 252 patients with impaired potency of varying aetiology. For BCR evaluation minimum, maximum and mean latencies, the temporal dispersion in ten successive responses, together with minimum and maximum side differences from simultaneous recordings of the left and right bulbocavernosus muscles were determined. Pathological findings were detected in 125 patients. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) recorded from the scalp after stimulation of the penile dorsal nerves and the terminal branches of the pudendal nerve were investigated in 30 controls and in 246 patients. An abnormal SSEP was found in 63 patients.