Testicular torsion in children

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Tran Van Trong - Department of General Surgery - Vinmec Da Nang International Hospital
Testicular torsion in children is a surgical emergency that needs to be diagnosed and treated early to avoid serious complications such as testicular necrosis or testicular atrophy with a rate of 68%. Testicular torsion can occur at any age, and is most common in infants and children aged 10-14 years.

1. What is testicular torsion?

Testicular torsion is a condition in which the testicle rotates on its own, causing sudden blockage of the spermatic cord, reducing or blocking blood flow to the testicle, causing swelling and pain. If this condition persists, it can lead to necrosis of the testicle and surrounding tissues. Therefore, the patient needs emergency surgery within the first few hours. If left too late, the testicles can be permanently damaged, affect fertility or have to be removed.
Testicular torsion usually occurs when the testicle is not fixed in the scrotum and moves abnormally, especially when the testicle is located in the peritoneal canal. Testicular torsion can occur and self-dissolve many times.
There are 3 types of testicular torsion:
Torsion of the whole bundle of spermatic vessels causing necrosis of the testis and epididymis: This type of torsion is mainly encountered; Simple testicular torsion: When there is an abnormality of epididymal fixation and there is a mesentery between the epididymis and the testicle, the testicle may be twisted around the mesentery. This type of torsion is less common; Torsion of the appendix of the epididymis - testicle: This type is also rare and the clinical symptoms are not as severe as the two types above.

2. Symptoms of testicular torsion in children

Testicular torsion in newborns has manifestations such as: at birth, the testicles are enlarged, painless, solid to the touch, the skin in the scrotum is dark red or pale, and wrinkles are lost. In some cases, one side of the scrotum is hollow due to a torsion testicle that has already disappeared. For newborns and breastfed babies who have not been able to locate the pain themselves, there are signs of crying a lot. Fever may occur several hours after the testicle is torsion.

In older children, testicular torsion has acute manifestations such as severe pain on one side of the scrotum, spreading to the groin or pelvis, with nausea or vomiting. Another notable feature is the scrotum and the inguinal canal are enlarged, edematous, and painful. If the disease lasts for a long time, the skin may be red, the patient's testicle is painful and painful when it is pressed along the inguinal canal.

3. Causes of testicular torsion in children

Currently, the exact cause of testicular torsion in children has not been found. One of the factors that can lead to this phenomenon is the sudden change in hormones in the body when entering puberty.
Besides, too mobile testicles can also be a risk factor. During fetal life, the testicles are located in the abdomen. During development, the testicle gradually moves into the double ball sac, pulling along the blood vessels that nourish it and its related components. This causes the testicles to dangle in the double sac, which is more prone to twisting. Gradually, the testicles will be more firmly fixed. This is also the reason why testicular torsion is more common in children and puberty.

4. Complications of testicular torsion

Testicular torsion can have serious consequences if not treated promptly. The testicles are twisted, causing blood vessels to be blocked, so the testicles are not nourished, very vulnerable. If diagnosed and treated late, the testicles can become necrotic to pus or completely atrophy within a few months, leading to the risk of male infertility, especially in the case of torsion of the spermatic cords on both testicles. ..
The golden time for treatment of testicular torsion only includes the first 6 hours from the time of pain symptoms. Therefore, the patient needs timely surgical intervention.
To promptly detect testicular torsion in newborns, parents need to check the baby's double ball bag regularly. If the double ball bag is sometimes empty on only one side, the parents need to take it to the hospital for a timely examination.
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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.

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