Testicular torsion: a complication of laparoscopic orchidopexy

A 19-month-old boy presented with an impalpable right testis. At second-stage Fowler-Stephens laparoscopic orchidopexy, the testicle was found to be torted, a complication that has not been described previously. The procedure, known complications, possible reasons for torsion and possible techniques to avoid torsion occurring are reviewed.     

A selective approach to the treatment of acute scrotum in children

To determine a reliable clinical approach to the problem of acute scrotum (AS) in children and identify patients who require emergent surgical intervention, 65 boys with the diagnosis of AS were studied. The mean age was 11 years. Acute orchitis/epididymitis was diagnosed in 42 (64.6%), torsion of the testis in 12 (18.5%), and torsion of the appendix testis in 5 (7.7%). A testicular radionuclide scan was the most reliable diagnostic tool, being positive in all 12 cases of torsion of the testis. Eighteen patients underwent scrotal exploration. Detorsion and bilateral orchidopexy was performed in 12, excision of a necrotic appendix testis in 5, and evacuation of a scrotal hematoma in 1. The outcome of the involved testis at follow-up examination was excellent, with only 1 child developing testicular atrophy. This study stresses the reliability of the selective approach for the treatment of the AS in children.     

Preoperative manual detorsion of the spermatic cord with Doppler ultrasound monitoring in patients with intravaginal acute testicular torsion

Objective. To assess the effectiveness of preoperative manual detorsion in acute testicular torsion.¶Materials and methods. Between June 1998 and March 1999, seven patients presenting with testicular torsion underwent manual manipulation under US monitoring in order to restore the flow to the testis prior to surgery (orchidopexy). All detorsions were lateral in direction. The success of the manoeuvre was assessed both clinically and sonographically and confirmed at surgery.¶Results. Six manoeuvres were successful in restoring flow to the testis. The failed attempt in the seventh patient was due to failure to manipulate beyond an initial 1 1/2 rotations (540 °).¶Conclusions. Preoperative detorsion is the fastest way to relieve testicular ischaemia. However, manual detorsion of the spermatic cord is not a substitute for surgical exploration and bilateral orchidopexy is still necessary.     

Spermatic cord torsion in the newborn: role of surgical exploration]

Torsion of the spermatic cord is frequent in neonates suffering from acute scrotal distress. A retrospective study was carried out to determine the viability and the outcome of testis treated by surgical exploration. PATIENTS AND RESULTS: Surgical exploration of 30 neonates presenting acute scrotal distress found: 18 torsions of the spermatic cord, six intrascrotal bleedings or hematoma due to delivery trauma, five tunica vaginalis inflammations and one ischemia without torsion. The torsion occurred in utero in 16 cases and after birth in two cases. The contralateral uninvolved testis was fixed to the scrotum in all cases. The torsion was extravaginal in 17 cases and intravaginal in one case. In all cases of prenatal torsion, there was total necrosis of the testis. One case of postnatal torsion operated on four hours after the beginning of the torsion was saved. CONCLUSION: Although the viability of the torsioned testis is compromised in cases of prenatal torsion, surgical exploration is necessary to confirm diagnosis and to avoid any contralateral torsion because bilateral torsion exists. Only emergency surgical exploration can save a testis that has undergone post-natal torsion as reported in others series.     

Spiral twist of the spermatic cord: a reliable sign of testicular torsion

Background. Colour Doppler sonography (CDS) has become the procedure of choice in evaluating testicular perfusion but false negative findings have been reported. Objective. To determine if direct visualisation of the twisted spermatic cord using high resolution US is a reliable sign to assess testicular torsion. Material and methods. Thirty patients (aged 2–26 years) with equivocal diagnosis of testicular torsion prospectively underwent high resolution and CDS. The results were correlated with surgical findings. Serial transverse and longitudinal scans were performed to compare the scrotal contents on each side and study the complete spermatic cord course, from inguinal canal to testis, to detect a spiral twist. Results. In 14 of the 23 cases of torsion, the diagnosis was based on the colour Doppler findings in the scrotum because blood flow was absent in the symptomatic testis and detectable without difficulty on the normal side. In nine cases, CDS was unreliable; in six cases intratesticular perfusion was present in a twisted testis and in three small boys, no colour signal was obtained in either testis. In all cases of torsion, the spiral twist of spermatic cord was detected at the external inguinal ring. The twist induced an abrupt change in spermatic cord course, size and shape below the point of torsion. It appeared in the scrotum as a round or oval, homogeneous or heterogeneous extratesticular mass with or without blood flow, that could be connected cephalad with the normal inguinal cord. In the other seven cases (three late torsions of the appendix testis, one epididymo-orchitis and three torsions with spontaneous reduction), no spiral twist was detectable. Conclusion. The detection of spermatic cord spiral twist appears a reliable US sign of torsion whatever the testicular consequences. Received: 1 December 1997 Accepted: 17 June 1998     

Predictors of testicular viability in testicular torsion

AimTesticular torsion (TT) requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to avoid testicular loss. Most studies have focused on the ideal work up to rule TT out in cases of acute scrotum. We attempted here to define objective criteria to select between orchidopexy and orchidectomy in patients undergoing surgery for TT.Patients and methodsFifteen boys with a median age at presentation of 7.8 (range 6.4–12) years undergoing surgical treatment for TT underwent color-Doppler ultrasound (CDU) preoperatively, and a bleeding test intraoperatively. Duration of preoperative history, degree of torsion, CDU findings and degree of bleeding were analyzed.ResultsSalvageability was independent of the degree of torsion. In patients with a history longer than 10 h, no flow on CDU and no bleeding, after orchidectomy all the testicles were necrotic on pathology. When all these variables were negative, all the testicles did well during follow up. In the group of patients with no agreement among the analyzed variables, the outcome was unpredictable. Five out of six underwent orchidopexy, but in two cases the testicle atrophied (in spite of flow on CDU in one).ConclusionsNo predictive parameters were found for testicular salvageability. Taken as a whole, the parameters studied can be of help in treatment choice. In patients with no agreement among the parameters, orchidopexy seems the appropriate option, but parents should be informed of the risk of testicular atrophy during follow up.     

Neonatal testicular torsion – a lost cause?

Twenty-four neonates presented with signs of testicular ischaemia over a 13-year period. They had a mean birth weight of 3.706 kg. The right testicle was affected in 13, the left in 9 and there was bilateral torsion in 2 babies. Two babies had no twist in the cord, but the testicles were nonviable macroscopically and microscopically. Twenty-one babies had primary exploration revealing necrotic testes in all patients and they underwent orchidectomies. The other three babies had conservative management and the affected testes had atrophied on follow-up. Sixteen babies had contralateral orchidopexy. Doppler ultrasound scans were reported as normal in 2 of 13 babies who had scans. No testes were salvaged following surgery.
Conclusion: The incidence of testicular torsion in the neonatal period was calculated as 6.1 per 100 000 live births. No testis was salvaged following surgery in our series of 24 patients. This dismal outcome underlines that immediate surgical exploration, although commonly performed, rarely saves torted testes.     

Color flow imaging in children with clinically suspected testicular torsion

32 boys with symptoms of an acute scrotum had testicular sonography with color flow imaging (CFI). Patients ranged in age from 4–15 years (avg=11 yrs). Symptoms were present from 12 h to 5 days (avg=42 hrs). CFI correctly predicted presence or absence of testicular perfusion in 11 boys who had surgical exploration of the scrotum. 8 of these 11 patients had hemorrhagic infarction of the testicle, 1 had torsion of the appendix epididymis, 1 had epididymitis, and 1 had bilateral incomplete torsions with normal testicular perfusion. The remaining 21 patients did not have an operation. At least a 1 year followup of all patients has shown no clinical evidence of testicular atrophy to suggest a misse diagnosis of torsion. Absence or markedly decreased testicular flow was easily identified and indicates testicular ischema/infarction. Conversely, hyperemia of the testis and/or epididymis is usually associated with trauma or infection. However, incomplete torsion or spontaneous detorsion may demonstrate normal testicular flow on CFI. Only close correlation of clinical symptomatology and gray scale findings with CFI can identify these patients, who remain at high risk for subsequent complete torsion and infarction.     

Testicular torsion versus epididymitis: a diagnostic challenge.

Unlike the patient who presents with a potentially acute abdomen, the child or adolescent with a potentially acute scrotum cannot simply be observed. If testicular torsion is present, the testicle must be detorted and orchiopexy performed as soon as possible for fertility to be maintained. Torsion of the appendix testis, however, can usually be managed without surgery. Since the presentations of epididymitis and testicular torsion overlap, it is sometimes difficult to rapidly make the correct diagnosis. Early genitourinary consultation is appropriate in this setting. Any patient in whom testicular torsion is strongly considered should undergo immediate exploratory surgery without diagnostic studies. If the findings overlap, immediate testicular radionuclide scanning should be arranged; alternatively, with experience, Doppler sonography can be carried out. If these radiographic studies cannot be arranged and interpreted within one to two hours, scrotal exploration should be performed. Any patient with an acute scrotal complaint and a negative scan should receive daily follow-up until the symptoms subside. Although our adolescent patient did well, his acute presentation and findings should have warranted immediate exploration. It is only through this aggressive approach that we can continue to increase testicular salvage rates.     

有腹股沟区手术史的隐睾患儿诊疗分析

目的探讨腹股沟区手术后隐睾的原因、预防措施及手术方法。方法回顾性分析2006年6月至2011年3月作者收治的13例（14侧）腹股沟区手术后再次行隐睾手术患儿的临床资料,其中隐睾手术后8例,腹股沟斜疝手术后4例,鞘膜积液手术后1例。均再次行睾丸下降固定术,手术前后超声测量睾丸容积。结果13例（14侧）患儿睾丸均降入阴囊内,术中见瘢痕粘连明显。术后12例（13侧）获随访2个月至4年,睾丸无回缩,彩超提示13侧睾丸位置、血流正常,睾丸容积4侧较术前缩小5％一15％,1侧与术前相当,8侧较术前增大。结论导致腹股沟区手术后隐睾的原因为隐睾合并斜疝或鞘膜积液时只处理了后者,或单纯行斜疝或鞘膜积液手术时操作不当使睾丸上移,或隐睾手术中未充分游离精索,未达到无张力下降,以致睾丸上缩。腹股沟区手术后隐睾应适时手术,再次手术要仔细分离腹股沟粘连,并注重腹膜后精索的游离。     

Scrotoshisis,bilateral extra-corporeal testicular ectopia and testicular torsion

Although anomalies of testicular descent are common, scrotoschisis and extracorporeal testicular ectopia is rare with only 3 reported cases in literature. This is a report of a neonate presenting with scrotoschisis and bilateral extracorporeal testicular ectopia. The right testis underwent torsion before presentation, resulting in gangrene of that testis, requiring orchidectomy. The scrotum was explored and the viable left testis placed in the scrotum and fixed in that position. The left testis has remained normal at 9 months of follow up. The possible embryology and management of this curious anomaly is discussed.     

Outcomes of Second Look Exploration in Testicular Torsion of Children

Background:

Testicular torsion (TT), or twisting of the testicle resulting in a strangulation of the blood supply, occurs in men whose tissue surrounding the testicle is not well attached to the scrotum. It is important to emphasize that testicular torsion is a medical emergency.

Objectives:

The aim of this study is to evaluate the second look exploration and outcomes in TT.

Patients and Methods:

Seventy boys out of 124 patients underwent early exploration and 48 hours later second look exploration due to TT. All patients were checked with preoperative color-doppler ultrasonography (CDU) and intraoperative bleeding test. Data included age at admission, side of pathology, relation of TT with season of year, duration of preoperative history, degree of testicular torsion, CDU findings, and degree of bleeding; results of second look exploration, follow-up, and outcomes were analyzed.

Results:

Totally 70 patients were included in this study within five years, of which mean age was 28.6 ± 32.9 months (range 1 to 144), 48% of our patients had nausea and vomiting. Preoperative CDU showed absent/weak flow in 50 (71%) cases. Winter showed most frequently (44%) referred cases of testicular torsion. Orchidopexy was performed in 44 (63%) and orchidectomy in 26 (37%) cases after second look exploration. Mean follow-up duration was 3.1 ± 1.4 years. 4 (9%) cases in orchidopexy group developed testicular atrophy during follow-up, all four cases had a history of longer than 12 hours and grade II testicular bleeding test intra-operatively. Other orchidopexy patients salvaged. 26 patients, who were in grade III, underwent orchidectomy in second look exploration.

Conclusions:

TT requires emergency attention. The ischemia time of the testis is traditionally after 6 hours, and imaging or other diagnostic modality should not be a cause of delay. Early surgical exploration is modality of choice, and second look exploration after 48 hours can be more effective and salvageable in these patients.     

Staged orchidopexy: simplifying the second stage

In some cases high undescended testes cannot be brought into the scrotum by means of a standard orchidopexy, but require different procedures such as autotransplantation, Fowler-Stephens orchidopexy, or staged orchidopexy. Over a period of 3 years 9 months the authors employed staged orchidopexy in 15 cases; 14 of these have already undergone the second stage. In 6 cases a modified Corkery operation was performed: after anchoring the gonad to the tuberculum pubis (first stage), a Silastic sheet is placed to cover the testis and cord, suturing it beneath the internal oblique muscle and external oblique fascia. This sheet of Silastic is not placed around the whole testis, as originally described by Corkery, but lies on the gonad and cord separating them from the overlying layers. As the purpose of this modification is to create a solid plane against vas/vessel injury during the second stage, the sheet of Silastic used is much thicker than the one originally described. In the 5 children who have undergone the modified second stage so far, isolation of the testis during the second procedure has proved easier and safer with respect to possible cord injuries. Our data indicate better results using this technique, compared to a standard staged procedure, with regard to secondary testicular atrophy. Offprint requests to: F. Ferro     

Neonatal paratesticular neuroblastoma misdiagnosed as in utero torsion of testis

Reports of neuroectodermal primary scrotal tumors are scarce. Primary paratesticular neuroblastomas seem even rarer, and only five infants with this condition have been previously described. To the authors' knowledge, this would be the first report of a neonatal congenital paratesticular neuroblastoma. However, the authors postulate that ischemic compressive features in testis could lead to misdiagnosis as testicular torsion and the condition could usually go undetected. A newborn male baby with a left scrotal tumefaction was referred to the authors in May 2003. Doppler ultrasonography findings were inconclusive, and a diagnosis of intrauterine torsion of the testis was suspected. Surgery showed a paratesticular mass with a small attachment to an intra-abdominal epiploon. Pathologic examination clearly established the diagnosis of neuroblastoma. Cytogenetic findings (no amplification of N-myc oncogene, aneuploidy, and no deletion of chromosome 1p) were favorable. As the tumor was classified as International Neuroblastoma Staging System stage I, no additional chemotherapy was administered. All markers showed a progressive decrease, and herniorrhaphy and orchidopexy of the contralateral side were performed at 4 months of age. The patient was tumor-free at 11 months follow-up.     

Colour Doppler ultrasonography replacing surgical exploration for acute scrotum: myth or reality?

Background: Traditionally, every patient with an acute scrotum needed surgical exploration for definitive exclusion of testicular torsion. Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the improved accuracy in clinical diagnosis with colour Doppler Ultrasonography (US) added to normal clinical assessment. Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed 626 patients, who presented with acute scrotal pain between January 1998 and June 2004. Following history and physical examination, the patients either proceeded directly to surgery or underwent US examination. If clinical suspicion of testicular torsion persisted after US, the patients would still undergo scrotal exploration. Results: Of the 294 patients who had routine scrotal exploration without preliminary US, only 23 (7.8%) were found to have testicular torsion. Amongst the 332 cases that had initial US, 9 (2.7%) patients revealed testicular torsion that was confirmed at subsequent surgery. The remaining 323 patients had initial negative US, but 29 were explored eventually on clinical indications. Of these, 4 (1.2% of 323) cases were diagnosed intra-operatively as testicular torsion. None of the remaining 294 patients who were managed conservatively proved to have testicular torsion after a minimum follow-up of 2 weeks. For testicular torsion, US yielded a sensitivity of 69.2% (95% confidence interval =38.9–89.5), specificity of 100% (95% CI=98.5–100), positive predictive value of 100% and negative predictive value of 97.5%. Conclusions: US has proven to decrease the number of emergency scrotal explorations, length of hospital stay and hence reduce the cost of management of acute scrotum.     

Critical validation of colour Doppler ultrasound in diagnostics of acute scrotum in children.

Acute scrotum in children is generally a symptom. Several pathologies of the testis, scrotum or groin may cause it, including inflammatory as well as ischaemic processes. Testicular torsion with ischaemia of the testis is an emergency requiring prompt surgical intervention. Even experienced paediatric surgeons and urologists may have difficulties differentiating an ischaemic from an inflammatory aetiology solely on the basis of clinical signs and symptoms. In cases of aetiologic uncertainty, operative exploration has to be performed to rule out ischaemia, which led in the past to a high rate of surgery. More recently, colour Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) has become an imaging modality for the examination of the acute scrotum with the purpose of detecting ischaemia, thus reducing the need for explorative surgery. In this study we examined the reliability of CDUS, comparing the sonographical diagnoses with both the intraoperative findings and the clinical course. We present here 132 consecutive cases of acute scrotum in children, who were admitted from 01/98 through 10/02 to our hospital. All patients underwent CDUS. Patients with ultrasonographic signs of ischaemia of the testis (group A) and patients with demonstrated perfusion and suspicious or severe clinical symptoms (group B) were operated immediately. Patients with demonstrated perfusion without suspicious or severe symptoms (group C) were treated conservatively. Thirty-eight patients (28.8%) were treated operatively. Eleven cases of testicular torsion in group A (12 pat.) could be confirmed intraoperatively, in one case there was no testicular torsion but a severe inflammation of the testis with torsion of the appendix testis. In group B (26 pat.) operative exploration revealed one case of testicular torsion. In group B two cases of sonographically suspected torsions of the appendix testis also emerged as epididymitis intraoperatively. In the other cases postoperative diagnosis was in agreement with the preoperative CDUS. The clinical course of 94 conservatively treated patients (71.2%) (group C) confirmed in all cases a non-ischaemic aetiology. There was a total of 12 cases (9.1%) where acute scrotum was caused by testicular torsions. This relatively low rate underlines the necessity to differentiate between ischaemic and other aetiologies, thus avoiding operation in many patients. 71.2% of our patients could be treated conservatively. However, it is essential to exclude an ischaemic cause before opting for conservative therapy. Even though CDUS is a very valuable diagnostic tool in this sense, this exclusion cannot be ensured in every case and is highly dependent on the expertise and technique of the investigator. Therefore in cases with any doubts an operative exploration has to be performed to avoid the most dreaded complication in the treatment of acute scrotum.     

Acute testicular pain: Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura versus testicular torsion.

A skilled examiner may not be able to exclude testicular torsion by physical examination maneuvers in a patient who presents with acute scrotal pain. Diagnostic adjunctive studies may be of assistance. However, if a diagnosis cannot be established with certainty, surgical exploration is warranted. Patients with Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura who present with a vascular eruption on the scrotum, lack a rash elsewhere, and have no arthritis or hematuria are likely to be explored.     

Early scrotal exploration in all cases is the investigation and intervention of choice in the acute paediatric scrotum

The acute scrotum in the paediatric population is a clinical dilemma where a definitive diagnosis can only truly be made at surgical exploration. We postulate that surgical exploration in all cases allows truly accurate diagnoses, treats the torted appendage testes and enables the validity of clinical signs associated with scrotal pathology to be assessed. We retrospectively reviewed all boys less than 15 years old who presented to our institution with scrotal pain over a 2 year period. A total of 121 patients attended of whom 113 had exploratory surgery, 31 (27%) had testicular torsion, 64 (57%) had a torted appendage testis, 12 (11%) had epididymitis, 1 (1%) had fat necrosis and 5 (4%) had no abnormality detected. On exploration 9 (29%) of the torted testis were unsalvageable and thus required excision. The initial clinical impression was frequently demonstrated to be flawed. Two patients with testicular torsion presented with a painless swelling and two further patients had necrotic testes despite a history of pain for less than 4 h. A normal cremasteric reflex and a visible blue dot were detected in boys with testicular torsion. Doppler ultrasound scans were not reliable with 50% sensitivity to clearly differentiate between torsion of the testis and that of the appendage testis. Absolute dependence on clinical features can lead to a misdiagnosis of testicular torsion. The surgical treatment of torted appendage testis is safe, allowing accurate diagnosis and pain relief with minimal morbidity. Early scrotal exploration of all cases with testicular pain ensures maximal testicular salvage.     

Effect of phospodiesterase 5 inhibitors on apoptosis and nitric oxide synthases in testis torsion: an experimental study

To investigate the effects of phosphodiesterase (PDE) 5 inhibitors, sildenafil citrate and vardenafil HCl, on testicular germ cell apoptosis and also on the expressions of eNOS and iNOS within the bilateral testis after a unilateral torsion in a rat model. Forty-eight Wistar Albino rats, weighing between 210 and 262 g, were housed in individual cages. The rats were randomly assigned into four main groups and each group received drugs. Saline, sildenafil citrate and vardenafil HCl were given to each for 1 month and the last received no drug. After 1 month, testicular torsion was created for 1 h of ischemia and the left testis was untwisted and replaced to the scrotum for 2 h of reperfusion. At the end of 3 h, contralateral and ipsilateral testes were removed for histopathologic and biochemical examinations. Under light microscopy; the histopathological patterns of the contralateral testes in all groups were not affected. Mean apoptotic cell, eNOS and iNOS levels were increased in saline study group. The rats treated with vardenafil and sildenafil (groups 2s and 3s) showed significantly increased apoptotic cell, eNOS and iNOS values in ipsilateral testis (P < 0.05). Sildenafil citrate and vardenafil HCl caused an exaggerated testicular apoptosis after IR injury in rats. Additionally these drugs increased the NOSs levels in the testicular tissue.