[page 74] [Orthopedic Reviews 2015; 7:5842] Sexual and reproductive function in spinal cord injuryand spinal surgery patients

Sexual and reproductive health is important quality of life outcomes, which can have a major impact on patient satisfaction. Spinal pathology arising from trauma, deformity, and degenerative disease processes may be detri-mental to sexual and reproductive function. Furthermore, spine surgery may impact sexual and reproductive function due to post-surgical mechanical, neurologic, and psychological fac-tors. The aim of this paper is to provide a con-cise evidence-based review on the impact that spine surgery and pathology can have on sexu-al and reproductive function. A review of pub-lished literature regarding sexual and repro-ductive function in spinal injury and spinal surgery patients was performed. We have found that sexual and reproductive dysfunc-tion can occur due to numerous etiological fac-tors associated with spinal pathology. Numerous treatment options are available for those patients, depending on the degree of dysfunction. Spine surgeons and non-opera-tive healthcare providers should be aware of the issues surrounding sexual and reproduc-tive function as related to spine pathology and spine surgery. It is important for spine sur-geons to educate their patients on the opera-tive risks that spine surgery encompasses with regard to sexual dysfunction, although current data examining these topics largely consists of level IV data