Mini Review
Volume 1 Issue 2 - November 2016
JOJ uro & nephron
Copyright © All rights are reserved by Paddy Dewan
A Survey of Manual Detorsion of The Testicle
Paddy Dewan
1
, Bhavish Kowlessur
2
and John Lazarus
2
1
Kind cuts for Kids and Urology Unit, Red Cross Children’s Hospital, Australia
2
University of Cape Town, South Africa
Submission: October 29, 2016; Published: November 14, 2016
*Corresponding author: Dewan P, Kind cuts for Kids and Urology Unit, Red Cross Children’s Hospital Post Box 152, Parkville 3052, Australia,
Email:
Introduction
Testicular torsion occurs in 1 in 4000 males before the age
of 25 years [1], but despite the common occurrence and multiple
papers published on the use of manual detorsion there appear
to be strong views against the use of the technique, and a wide
variation between the different specialties in how to manage
testicular torsion patients. Certainly, there are not any public
education programs to ensure teenage boys know how to self
detort a twisted testicle, despite the high testicular loss rate
from torsion [2-3] and the high incidence of litigation when
testicular loss occurs.
How to manage the infracted and ischemic testicle like-wise
seems opinionated, rather than based on science as highlighted
in studies of the testis compartment syndrome [1-4], which is
managed by incision by most and insertion of tunica vaginalis in
recent studies [1-4].
There are a number of anaesthetic techniques advocated
by respondents to the survey, but little literature on the subject
[5-6]. And, many are sceptical about the need cause to cause
severe pain when they optimistically reflect on easy access to
theatre, a view that fails to appreciate that most patients attend
a non-hospital practitioner prior to arriving in the emergency
department, therefore it would be important for the community,
and community health workers, to be aware of a procedure
that would buy time. There are now many papers that advocate
manual detorsion [5-12] including publications from the 19th
Century [13].
A further barrier to the use of preoperative manual detorsion
appears to be uncertainty about the direction of the twist.
However, this does not appear to be a problem in the clinical
setting, as it the instant pain relief is a marker of the direction in
the early presentation cases. Several studies have documented
JOJ uro & nephron 1(2): JOJUN.MS.ID.555556 (2016)
JOJ
Urology & Nephrology
001
Abstract
Purpose: A nine question survey was established on an internet survey provider, aimed to understand attitudes to two principle aspects of
management of testicular torsion. Respondents were asked about their experience and attitude toward the use of preoperative manual detorsion,
the analgesic usage for that manoeuvre and the approach to the significantly ischaemic testicle at the time of scrotal exploration.
Materials Methods: A monkey survey platform included 9 questions, the results of which were analysed via an access database. In all, 561
emails were sent from the authors, and the numbers linked via the Australasian Urology and Paediatric Surgery societies, for privacy reasons,
were not defined. A total of 285 responses were collected; 181 via emails responses and 104 via a web link.
Results: Results of 285 who did respond, 134are Urologists, 33 Urology trainees, 45Paediatric Urologists,58Paediatric Surgeons and 15
Paediatric Surgery trainees.19 of 58 (32.8%) of Paediatric surgeons, 32 of 45 (66.7%) Paediatric Urologists and 84of 134 (62.7%) of Urologists
had untwisted a testicle before theatre, but 12 (25.0%) of 48 trainees have either never been taught or do not believe in the manual detorsion;
46.7% of those in Paediatric Surgery compared to four of 33 urology trainees 15.1%.
Conclusion: The majority of surgeons rely on manual detorsion of the testicle as part of the management of patients with a twisted testicle in
the adolescent age group, and there appear to clinical criteria that are used to assess the appropriateness of the manoeuvre.
Keywords: testicular torsion; spermatic cord torsion; manual detorsion; capsulotomy; testicular infarction.