Adrien Dupond-Athénor1, Matthieu Peycelon2, Olivier Abbo3, Julien Rod4, Elodie Haraux5, Aurélien Scalabre6, Alexis Arnaud7, Florent Guérin8, Sabine Irtan9. 1. Sorbonne Université, Department of Pediatric Surgery, APHP Hôpital Armand Trousseau, 26 Avenue du Dr Arnold Netter, 75012, Paris, France. Electronic address: adriendupondathenor@gmail.com. 2. Department of Pediatric Surgery and Urology, APHP Hôpital Universitaire Robert-Debré, Centres de Référence Maladies Rares, Maladies Endocriniennes Rares de la Croissance (CRMERC), Université de Paris, 48 Bd Sérurier, 75019, Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, INSERM UMR_S933, Maladies Génétiques d'expression Pédiatrique, APHP, Hôpital Armand Trousseau, 26 Avenue du Dr Arnold Netter, 75012, Paris, France. Electronic address: matthieu.peycelon@aphp.fr. 3. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hôpital des Enfants de Toulouse, CHU Toulouse, 330 Avenue de Grande Bretagne, 31300, Toulouse, France. Electronic address: olivier.abbo@gmail.com. 4. Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Caen, Avenue de la Côte de Nacre, 14000, Caen, France. Electronic address: rodjule@gmail.com. 5. Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital, 1 Rue Du Professeur Christian Cabrol, 80054, Amiens, France. Electronic address: harauxelodie@yahoo.fr. 6. Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, Avenue Albert Raimond, 42270, Saint-Priest-en-Jarez, France. Electronic address: Aurelien.Scalabre@chu-st-etienne.fr. 7. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hôpital Sud, University Hospital, 16 Boulevard de Bulgarie, 35200 Rennes, France. Electronic address: Alexis.ARNAUD@chu-rennes.fr. 8. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hôpital Bicêtre, AP-HP Paris Saclay, 78 Rue Du Général Leclerc, 94270 Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France. Electronic address: florent.guerin@aphp.fr. 9. Sorbonne Université, Department of Pediatric Surgery, APHP Hôpital Armand Trousseau, 26 Avenue du Dr Arnold Netter, 75012, Paris, France. Electronic address: sabine.irtan@aphp.fr.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Torsion of an undescended testis (UT) is a surgical emergency, difficult to diagnose, whose prognosis depends on a quick management. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the management and outcome of these patients. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively analyzed all cases of UT torsion operated in nine French hospitals between 1997 and 2017. We divided patients in two groups: patients referred less than 6 h after the onset of symptoms (group A) or more than 6 h (group B). MAIN RESULTS: We collected 60 cases (17 in group A and 43 in group B). Median age was 2.2 years [IQR = 0.7-7.8] (2.3 y in group A and 2 y in group B, p = 0.76). Eleven patients (10 in group B) had neurological disorders (p = 0.15). The main reason for absence of UT treatment was the absence of surgical consultation in a normal delay (n = 44, 73%). Symptoms were pain (n = 58, 97%), inguinal mass (n = 55, 92%) and vomiting (n = 16, 27%). An inguinal mass with no palpable testis in the ipsilateral hemiscrotum was seen in 55 patients (92%). An ultrasound scan performed in 27 patients led to the diagnosis in 16 patients (59%). At surgery, an orchiectomy was performed in 4 patients (23%) of group A and 24 patients (56%) of group B (p = 0.04). After a median follow-up of 11 months [IQR = 4-23], 11 patients of group A (65%) and 7 patients of group B (16%) had a clinically normal testis (p = 0.03). The salvage rate among patients with conservative treatment was 85% for group A and 37% for group B (p = 0.01). DISCUSSION: Our study reveals that although UT torsion is an emergency, 72% of patients are referred more than 6 h after the onset of symptoms. We mostly found classic clinical presentation of UT torsion: a painful inguinal mass with an empty ipsilateral scrotum. Ultrasound was performed in half cases, and even if the result was not significant, it still seemed to be associated with a higher rate of orchiectomy especially in group B because of the delay in care. However, when ultrasound was realized early, it led to diagnosis in all cases. This dilemma poses the problem of the role of imaging in diagnostic management. CONCLUSIONS: Early clinical diagnosis in front of a painful inguinal mass with an empty scrotum is essential to improve the salvage rate of testis in UT torsion. Early management of UT should have avoided 68% of testis loss.
INTRODUCTION: Torsion of an undescended testis (UT) is a surgical emergency, difficult to diagnose, whose prognosis depends on a quick management. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the management and outcome of these patients. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively analyzed all cases of UT torsion operated in nine French hospitals between 1997 and 2017. We divided patients in two groups: patients referred less than 6 h after the onset of symptoms (group A) or more than 6 h (group B). MAIN RESULTS: We collected 60 cases (17 in group A and 43 in group B). Median age was 2.2 years [IQR = 0.7-7.8] (2.3 y in group A and 2 y in group B, p = 0.76). Eleven patients (10 in group B) had neurological disorders (p = 0.15). The main reason for absence of UT treatment was the absence of surgical consultation in a normal delay (n = 44, 73%). Symptoms were pain (n = 58, 97%), inguinal mass (n = 55, 92%) and vomiting (n = 16, 27%). An inguinal mass with no palpable testis in the ipsilateral hemiscrotum was seen in 55 patients (92%). An ultrasound scan performed in 27 patients led to the diagnosis in 16 patients (59%). At surgery, an orchiectomy was performed in 4 patients (23%) of group A and 24 patients (56%) of group B (p = 0.04). After a median follow-up of 11 months [IQR = 4-23], 11 patients of group A (65%) and 7 patients of group B (16%) had a clinically normal testis (p = 0.03). The salvage rate among patients with conservative treatment was 85% for group A and 37% for group B (p = 0.01). DISCUSSION: Our study reveals that although UT torsion is an emergency, 72% of patients are referred more than 6 h after the onset of symptoms. We mostly found classic clinical presentation of UT torsion: a painful inguinal mass with an empty ipsilateral scrotum. Ultrasound was performed in half cases, and even if the result was not significant, it still seemed to be associated with a higher rate of orchiectomy especially in group B because of the delay in care. However, when ultrasound was realized early, it led to diagnosis in all cases. This dilemma poses the problem of the role of imaging in diagnostic management. CONCLUSIONS: Early clinical diagnosis in front of a painful inguinal mass with an empty scrotum is essential to improve the salvage rate of testis in UT torsion. Early management of UT should have avoided 68% of testis loss.