Study details outcomes of scrotal exploration for acute testicular pain

London, UK: Surgical exploration <6 hours from the onset of acute testicular pain is the threshold for salvage in testicular torsion (TT), concludes a study published in the Journal of Clinical Urology. To aid diagnosis, clinical findings should with combined with patient time to presentation and age. 

The researchers note, patients between the age of 13 and 16 years carries the highest risk of testicular torsion and frequently present early after the onset of pain. They suggest that speciality organisations should produce definitive guidance on the management of TT given the heterogenicity of surgical management and the highest risk of TT to the paediatric population.

The stud was conducted by William Maynard, Urology Department, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London, and colleagues with the objective to assess the evaluation and operative outcomes of patients attending a single urology centre with acute testicular pain (ATP) who underwent scrotal exploration. 

The team sought to determine adherence to the Royal College of Surgeons England (RCS) commissioning guide on testicular torsion, clinical and radiological features predictive of torsion, time-dependent salvage rates and surgical technique in a contemporary cohort.