Exploration of the acute scrotum: a retrospective analysis of 100 consecutive cases.

BACKGROUND: Acute scrotal pain is a common urological emergency. Urgent exploration is the standard means of management, as no investigation can confidently exclude torsion of testis from the differential diagnoses. In our department, all patients up to the age of 40 years, presenting with acute scrotal pain undergo emergency scrotal exploration. AIM: This study assesses the outcome of such a policy in one unit.
METHODS: The notes of 100 consecutive males who underwent exploration of scrotum have been reviewed.
RESULTS: Testicular torsion was diagnosed in 33% of patients, with torsion of the appendix testis being the next most common entity. In the group with testicular torsion 12% required orchidectomy, and all had presented at least 24 hours after the onset of pain. The perioperative morbidity of scrotal exploration was very low.
CONCLUSION: These data justify the policy of emergency exploration for all cases of acute scrotal pain up to the age of 40 years.