High flow or low flow? An unusual case of ischemic priapism following gunshot wound to the cervical spinal cord

Eric J Szczecinski; Raymond Pominville; Tyler J Maiers; Nicole A Belko; John J Bodkin 3rd

doi:10.1016/j.eucr.2021.101631

High flow or low flow? An unusual case of ischemic priapism following gunshot wound to the cervical spinal cord

Urol Case Rep. 2021 Mar 5:37:101631. doi: 10.1016/j.eucr.2021.101631. eCollection 2021 Jul.

Authors

Eric J Szczecinski¹, Raymond Pominville¹, Tyler J Maiers¹, Nicole A Belko¹, John J Bodkin 3rd^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Urology, University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo General Medical Center, 100 High Street, Suite B280, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA.
² Western New York Urology Associates, 3085 Harlem Rd, Cheektowaga, NY, 14225, USA.

Abstract

Ischemic priapism has rarely been reported in the setting of acute spinal cord injury. Herein, we present a 25 year-old male with cavernous blood gas evidence of ischemic priapism following a traumatic gunshot wound with a retained bullet fragment in the third cervical vertebra. The patient received definitive treatment with corporal aspiration and irrigation, with no evidence of priapism recurrence. This unusual case emphasizes the critical importance of obtaining a cavernous blood gas, even when a common cause of non-ischemic priapism is apparent. Suspicion for ischemic priapism must be maintained, especially in the setting of multiple known risk factors.

Keywords: Case report; Ischemic priapism; Spinal cord injury.

Publication types

Case Reports