Quadriplegia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Quadriplegia, including details on quadriplegics, causes, prevention, surgery, treatment.

Testosterone replacement therapy and motor function in men with spinal cord injury: a retrospective analysis.

Clark MJ, Petroski GF, Mazurek MO, Hagglund KJ, Sherman AK, Lammy AB, Childers MK, Acuff ME

Department of Health Psychology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate motor function in men with spinal cord injury (SCI) given testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). DESIGN: American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) rehabilitation discharge motor index scores were compared between men with SCI given TRT (testosterone cypionate, 200 mg, monthly; n = 50) and a comparison group (n = 480) in a retrospective study. Covariates included admission motor and FIM scores, level of injury (paraplegia/tetraplegia), days since injury, and age. RESULTS: ASIA discharge motor scores for ASIA impairment scale grades C and D were significantly different (P < 0.05) in men with incomplete SCI given TRT, relative to the comparison group. The covariate-adjusted mean discharge score for the TRT group was higher than for the comparison group. There were no significant differences in discharge FIM scores (P = 0.34) for men with incomplete injuries and no differences in the adjusted discharge ASIA motor scores (P = 0.92) or adjusted discharge FIM scores (P = 0.16) for men with complete injuries. CONCLUSION: The data support a relationship between TRT and strength gains in men with residual motor function after SCI. Prospective studies are necessary to validate these findings.

Published 21 March 2008 in Am J Phys Med Rehabil, 87(4): 281-4.
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