what causes priapism
High-flow priapism is typically caused by injury; injury can be to the perineum or to the spinal cord. Other causes of spinal cord dysfunction including spinal stenosis, sacral tumours, transverse myelitis, epidural haematoma, transurethral surgery or spinal anaesthesia can, rarely, cause high-flow priapism.
Low-flow priapism is more common; typically the penile shaft is firm, the glans penis is soft and the priapism is painful. The causes of low-flow priapism include haematological disorders such as leukaemia, sickle cell anaemia or diffuse intravascular coagulation, drugs or pelvic malignancy.