Diagnosis and treatment of testicular torsion

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor II Tran Van Trong - Department of General Surgery - Vinmec International Hospital Da Nang.

Testicular torsion is a surgical emergency, common in children, and has symptoms that are confused with other conditions. Timely detection and treatment of testicular torsion helps to avoid serious complications such as testicular necrosis and testicular atrophy.

Patients with testicular torsion often have symptoms such as: sudden and severe pain in one testicle (due to the testicle rotating on its own, causing sudden blockage of the spermatic cord, reducing or completely blocking blood flow to the testicle). testicles), the scrotum is swollen, painful, pain may radiate upward, the twisted testicle may be in a higher position than usual; Testicular pain can suddenly go away without treatment because a change in the patient's position helps the testicle to untwist on its own.
Testicular torsion is actually torsion of the spermatic cord (blood vessels and vas deferens) leading to testicular ischemia and damage, necrosis. If left torsion for too long, the testicles can be permanently damaged, affect fertility or have to be removed.

The doctor will rely on:
Clinical symptoms: The lateral testicle is twisted with severe and sudden pain, higher than the normal side, the scrotum is enlarged and painful, the scrotal skin reflex is lost on the twisted testicle (by size) slight preference to the medial side of the lateral thigh. If normal, the testicle retracts; if testicular torsion occurs, this reflex does not occur).

Subclinical tests such as color Doppler ultrasound can show ischemia of testicles, enlarged epididymis and spermatic cord, damage due to testicular torsion.

The golden time for treatment of testicular torsion is only the first 6 hours from the time of pain symptom. If intervention before 6 hours, 100% of patients can save testicles. Between 6-12 hours, the chance of saving the testicle is only 50%, and between 12-24 hours, only 20% can be saved. More than 24 hours usually won't save the testicle. It is worth noting that due to late detection, many children with testicular torsion come to the hospital when the testicle is necrotic and has to be removed. Children who have one testicle removed will affect their fertility and male hormones.
Testicular torsion is a less complicated and less invasive surgery. The surgery is carried out as follows: the doctor will first make an incision in the scrotum; then untwist the spermatic cord; sutures to fix the testicle to the scrotum to prevent testicular rotation.
In summary, testicular torsion is a surgical emergency, the patient needs timely surgical intervention. Therefore, when patients have sudden pain symptoms in the scrotum, it is necessary to quickly go to a specialized facility for accurate diagnosis and timely treatment.
As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of top doctors and nurses in Pediatrics : consists of leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All doctors are well-trained, professional, conscientious, knowledgeable about young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.