Clinical Application of Sacral Reflex Latency

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Abstract
The sacral reflex latency was determined in 108 neurologically normal subjects and 110 patients with neurological lesions by applying stimulating current to the glans penis or clitoris, and measuring the response with electrodes inserted in the external urethral and anal sphincters. In normal men the mean latencies were 34.6 .+-. 5.1 (SD) ms at the external urethral sphincter and 36.0 .+-. 5.2 ms at the external and sphincter. In normal women the mean latencies were 37.4 .+-. 5.5 ms at the external urethral sphincter and 38.6 .+-. 4.0 ms at the external anal sphincter. The mean reflex latency in patients with upper motor neuron lesions was significantly shorter. This may be the 1st single electrophysiological test to show a difference between such patients and normal subjects. An increased mean latency was found in patients with lower motor neuron impairment. Measurement of sacral reflex latency can add to the diagnostic information obtained from conventional electromyography and cystometry.