Testicular torsion in children: Unpredictable complications if detected late

Testicular torsion in children causes blockage of blood vessels supplying the testicles. If not operated on promptly, it will cause testicular necrosis and require removal.

On March 9, Soc Trang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital announced that it had just received a boy named LKN (12 years old, residing in Vinh Phuoc commune, Vinh Chau district, Soc Trang province) who was transferred in a state of severe pain in the right groin area. Upon examination, there was a swelling in the right groin area, which was very painful to touch, the right testicle was located in the groin area; the inguinal canal and left scrotum could not feel the testicle.

Ultrasound results showed bilateral cryptorchidism and right testicular torsion. The baby underwent emergency surgery, and during surgery, the testicles were found to have twisted twice. Doctors managed to untwist the testicles and preserve them.

In 2023, Soc Trang Province Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital received and successfully treated 8 cases of children with testicular torsion. In addition, there were many cases where parents discovered the condition late and did not take their children to the hospital in time, leading to testicular necrosis that had to be removed.

Soc Trang Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital received and treated a baby with testicular torsion.

According to Dr. Quach Tong Lai, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Soc Trang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, "Testicular torsion is a phenomenon in which the testicles are twisted around their axis, blocking the blood vessels that nourish the testicles. If not operated on promptly, it will cause testicular necrosis and require removal. Testicular torsion can occur at any age, but is most common in children. Typical symptoms of testicular torsion are severe pain in the groin and scrotum, with possible swelling, bruising, nausea and vomiting. The pain increases and gradually spreads to the groin area."

BSCKI. Quach Tong Lai added: “Cryptorchitis is a congenital disease, in which one or both testicles of the child are not located in the scrotum but in other locations such as in the abdomen, deep inguinal ring, inguinal canal, superficial inguinal ring. Because they are not fixed in the scrotum, the testicles are easily mobile, moving up and down, so children with cryptorchidism are very susceptible to testicular torsion and especially if cryptorchidism is not treated early, the testicles will lose function, and the possibility of cancer is very high. In 2023, doctors of the Pediatric Surgery Department of Soc Trang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital performed surgery on 27 cases of cryptorchidism.”

Parents should take their children for examination and screening to detect undescended testicles early when they see abnormalities in their children, especially children under 18 months of age. Early detection and treatment of undescended testicles will help reduce the risk of complications that affect the child's future development.

TUAN QUANG

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