Orchidectomy in a rural African population

From 1971 to 1977 in Zaria, Nigeria, orchidectomy was performed on 341 men, mostly in the third to sixth decades of life. The testis itself was diseased only in 21% of cases. Torsion of the spermatic cord with testicular infarction occurred in 11% and cancer was present in less than 2%. Orchidectomy was performed therapeutically in 5% of the patients. The major causes for testicular resection were complicated and large inguinal herniae and hydroceles. These two conditions are a source of socio-economic hardship and considerable morbidity in a farming population. It would thus be worth while to include facilities for surgery of small herniae and hydroceles in plans for rural health care.