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Introduction: Penile traction therapy (PTT) and vacuum erection devices (VED) are nonsurgical conservative treatment options that have been used in the treatment of various urologic and sexual disorders such as Peyronie's Disease (PD) and Erectile Dysfunction (ED). Recently expanded uses for these therapies now include penile lengthening and with surgical interventions such as penile prosthesis surgery (PPS) and radical prostatectomy (RP). These devices can be used as both monotherapy or combination therapy.

For many men who undergo a radical prostatectomy, the challenge after conquering cancer is often Erectile Dysfunction (ED). Clinical data indicates that over half of these patients face this struggle, rooted in penile hypoxia post-surgery, which leads to tissue fibrosis and penile shortening.

This article delves into Vacuum Erection Devices (VEDs) as an effective, non-invasive rehabilitation solution. By reviewing medical literature from 1874 to the present, we uncover the mechanism of VEDs: by regularly drawing oxygen-rich blood into the penis, they mimic natural erections, thereby combating hypoxia, inhibiting fibrosis, and effectively preventing post-surgical penile shortening.

Results: Among the 2225 participants, the weighted prevalence of ED was 27.47%, with 16.17% in the 40-60 years age group and 56.98% in the 60-80 years age group. BPH had an ED prevalence of 47.57%, prostatitis 34.62%, and PCa 85.62%. Comparative analysis between ED and non-ED groups revealed significant differences in education levels, PIR, smoking and alcohol status, creatinine, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, BPH, and PCa. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified BPH as an independent risk factor for ED in the 60-80 years age group (OR=1.93; 95% CI, 1.18-3.18, P=0.02), and PCa was positively associated with ED in both the 40-60 years group (OR=11.90; 95% CI, 1.41-100.50, P=0.03) and the 40-80 years group (OR=7.30; 95% CI, 2.12-25.08, P=0.01). No clear correlation was found between prostatitis and ED. Subgroup analyses indicated that the association between BPH and ED was significant in non-diabetic, overweight/obese, and smoking groups, while the association between PCa and ED was more pronounced in non-diabetic, hypertensive individuals across all body mass index (BMI) categories, and in both smoking and non-smoking groups. Prostatitis showed no significant relationship with ED in any subgroup.