Transient testicular torsion: from early diagnosis to appropriate therapeutic intervention (a prospective clinical study).

ABSTRACT

Transient testicular torsion (TTT) occurs when the torsion of the spermatic cord is reversed automatically within few minutes, with subsequent restoration of the blood ow to the suffering testis. e main clinical manifestation is acute scrotal pain, which resolves within a short period of time, usually few minutes. In 25% of patients su er from nausea and vomiting, besides the scrotal discomfort. Episodes of torsion can be repeated 1-30 times, leading progressively to development of ischemic trauma of the testis, while in 30-61% of all cases they constitute a precursor of testicular torsion. From January, 2016 to December, 2016, 11 patients in total were admitted to the Emergency Department due to acute scrotal pain that lasted a few minutes (1-5 minutes in most), which had already elapsed at the time of their admission, accompanied with nausea in all patients and vomiting in 5 of them. No swelling or rubor of the scrotum was revealed during physical examination, while in 9 patients it was observed that the suffering testis had transverse orientation. Ultrasonography was negative for pseudotumor or Whirlpool sign, while transverse orientation of the testis was confirmed in 9 patients. All the patients underwent surgical investigation of the suffering hemiscrotum, while Bell Clapper Deformity was found in 9 patients. Fixation of the suffering testis to the mesoscrotal diaphragm with 3 separate sutures by using non-absorbable suture followed. By the same surgical approach, the contralateral hemiscrotum was also investigated. Bilateral high adhesion of the tunica vaginalis was found in 8 out of 9 patients, in whom preventive unilateral orchidopexy was performed. All the patients are followed-up on a 6-month basis, without report of a similar, transient episode of acute scrotal pain. TTT should always be included in differential diagnosis in cases of acute scrotal pain in the past, with transverse orientation of the suffering testis. Prompt diagnosis and early treatment of the subject anatomic deformity (Bell Clapper Deformity) prevents the ischemic consequences on testicular parenchyma due to either recurrent episode of TTT or as a consequence of intravaginal testicular torsion.