Seasonality of testicular torsion: a 10-year nationwide population based study

The impact of health care on outcomes of suspected testicular torsion: results from the GRAND study

BACKGROUND

Suspicion of testicular torsion represents a urological emergency, necessitating immediate surgery. Comprehensive data on the current trends and perioperative outcomes regarding surgical exploration are sparse. Therefore, we utilized nationwide data on the prevalence and results of this surgery, aiming to provide evidence on this matter.

METHODS

We assessed the GeRmAn Nationwide inpatient Data (GRAND) from 2005 to 2021, provided by the Research Data Center of the Federal Bureau of Statistics. We performed multiple regression analyses to evaluate the perioperative outcomes (length of hospital stay, transfusion, and surgical wound infection) after surgical exploration due to suspected testicular torsion based on both the outcome of surgery (orchiectomy, detorsion with preservation of the testicle, and no testicular torsion) and on the department of operation (urological versus non-urological).

RESULTS

A total of 81,899 males underwent surgical exploration due to suspected testicular torsion in Germany from 2005 to 2021. Of them, 11,725 (14%) underwent orchiectomy, 30,765 (38%) detorsion with preservation of the testicle and subsequent orchidopexy, and 39,409 (48%) presented no testicular torsion. Orchiectomy was significantly associated with longer length of hospital stay (day difference of 1.4 days, 95%CI: 1.3-1.4, p < 0.001), higher odds of transfusion (1.8, 95% CI: 1.2-2.6, p = 0.002) and surgical wound infections (1.8, 95%CI: 1.4-2.3, p < 0.001) compared to no testicular torsion. The proportion of patients undergoing orchiectomy was significantly lower in urological departments (14%) versus non-urological departments (16%) and the proportion of patients undergoing preservation of testicle after detorsion was significantly higher in urological departments (38%) versus non-urological departments (37%), p < 0.001. Patients undergoing treatment in a urological department were discharged earlier and presented lower odds of transfusion and surgical wound infection (p < 0.001) compared to patients undergoing treatment in a non-urological department.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly half of patients who underwent surgery for suspected testicular torsion did not have intraoperatively the condition confirmed. Patients treated in urological departments had significantly better perioperative outcomes compared to those treated in non-urological departments. Therefore, we advise to refer patients to urological treatment as early as possible.

Factors Determining Testicular Torsion and Consequent Orchiectomy in Pediatric Patients Presenting With Scrotal Pain

OBJECTIVE

Factors associated with testicular torsion (TT) and consequent orchiectomy in patients presenting to pediatric emergency departments (PEDs) with scrotal pain (SP) are not well described. We report the factors predicting TT and consequent orchiectomy in children with SP.

METHODS

The data on patients (aged ≤18 years) who presented with SP to PEDs at 4 branches of the Chang Gung Hospital through 10 years were analyzed.

RESULTS

In all, 256 pediatric patients presented with SP. Their mean age was 11.60 ± 4.61 years and 72.7% (n = 186) were aged 10 to 18 years. The pain was left-sided in 54.7% (n = 140) and the interval between SP onset and PED arrival was 22.45 ± 31.27 hours. Overall, 84 (32.8%) patients needed surgery and 72 (28.1%) had TT. Of the patients with TT, 28 (38.9%) patients needed an orchiectomy. After analysis, TT and consequent orchiectomy were associated with a longer interval between SP onset and PED arrival, absent of testicular ultrasonic blood flow, interval between SP onset and surgery of more than 24 hours, and a high degree of TT. None of them experienced recurrent SP symptoms or TT again.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of TT in patients presenting to PEDs with an SP was 28.1%, and 38.9% of the patients with TT needed an orchiectomy. Early diagnosis and intervention helped to prevent subsequent orchiectomy in pediatric patients with TT.

Impact of seasonal variations on incidence and laterality of testicular torsion

Nowadays, there is confusing evidence in the literature regarding the association between seasonal variations and events of testicular torsion (TT). We attempted to assess the correlation between seasonal variations, including season, ambient temperatures, and humidity levels to onset and laterality of testicular torsion. We conducted a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with testicular torsion and confirmed surgically between January 2009 and December 2019, at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center. Weather data was collected from meteorological observation stations near the hospital. TT incidents were stratified into five temperature categories (< 15 °C, 15-20 °C, 20-25 °C, 25-30 °C, > 30 °C) and into two categories of humidity (≤ 50%, > 50%). Potential associations between TT and seasonal variations were investigated. Of 235 patients diagnosed with TT, 156 (66%) were children and adolescents and 79 (34%) were adults. In both groups, rate of TT incidents increased in winter and fall months. Significant correlation between TT and temperatures below 15 °C was observed in both groups; OR 3.3 [95% IC 1.54-7.07], p = 0.002 in children and adolescents and 3.77 [1.79-7.94], p < 0.001) in adults. The correlation between TT and humidity was non-significant in both groups. Among children and adolescents left-sided TT was observed in most of the cases, with strong correlation to lower temperatures; OR 3.15 [1.34-7.40], p = 0.008. Higher rates of acute TT were observed in patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) during the cold seasons in Israel. Significant association was observed between left-side TT and temperatures below 15 °C in the children and adolescents' group. Our findings suggest that there might be a predilection for TT occurrence in cold weather, particularly left-side laterality among children and adolescents.

Is There a Relationship Between Waking Up from Sleep and the Onset of Testicular Torsion?

Testicular torsion is a serious urologic emergency that can present with unusual or atypical history and examination. Classical pain from testicular torsion is of sudden onset, significantly severe, and is accompanied by nausea and vomiting. However, in some patients, the initial scrotal pain appears to considerably subside within the next few hours. In others, testicular torsion tends to occur while sleeping, and many patients recount a history of being woken up from sleep by intense pain. Furthermore, some patients in this subset can resume normal activities and even sleep through the night with little or no discomfort, without a perceived need for pain medications. Other patients initially experience mild pain, which worsens over time. Consequently, these patients are less likely to be evaluated immediately. In view of these atypical cases, the question remains unanswered regarding sleep as a predisposing factor for testicular torsion. This narrative review focuses on exploring the association between sleep and testicular torsion.

A validated predictive model for adnexal torsion pre-operative diagnosis

PURPOSE

To develop a simple predictive model for pre-operative diagnosis of adnexal torsion (AT).

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study with a retrospective validation, including 669 separate episodes of women who underwent laparoscopy due to a suspected AT between January 2011 and June 2020. We compared the pre-operative characteristics between women with surgically confirmed AT and those without.

RESULTS

The derivation cohort included 615 episodes of suspected AT. AT was surgically confirmed in 445 episodes (72%). The retrospectively collected validation cohort included 54 episodes, with 31 (57.4%) surgically confirmed AT. In a multivariate regression analysis, vomiting, neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio > 3.5 and sonographic finding of enlarged ovary were independently associated with AT [OR 95% CI 2.78 (1.21-6.36), 3.15 (1.42-6.97) and 2.80 (1.33-5.88), respectively]. In the derivation cohort, the PPV for AT diagnosis was 69.7%, 84.5% and 93.1% if 1, 2 and 3 risk factors were present, respectively. Retrospective validation analysis underlined a PPV of 67.6%, 82.6 and 66.6% for 1, 2 and 3 risk factors, respectively.

CONCLUSION

We have developed and validated a simple predictive model for pre-operative diagnosis of AT, based on three parameters. Our model may assist clinicians while evaluating patients with suspected AT and improve pre-operative diagnosis.

Testicular torsion and climate changes in macroregions of São Paulo, Brazil

Objective:

To analyze the association between climate changes in the macroregions in the state of São Paulo and testicular torsion treated cases.

Methods:

The cases were selected in the Brazilian Public Health Data System Database from January 2008 to November 2016. All surgical procedure records were identified by the Hospital Admission Authorization document. Two codes were selected to process the search: testicular torsion (surgical cure code) and acute scrotum (exploratory scrototomy code). The macroregions were grouped in five areas linked to climate characteristics by International Köppen Climate Classification.

Results:

A total of 2,351 cases of testicular torsion were registered in the period. For the areas B, C and E (testicular torsion n=2,130) there were statistical differences found in association of testicular torsion cases and decreased temperature (p=0.019, p=0.001 and p=0.006, respectively), however, in analyses for the areas A and D statistical differences were not observed (p=0.066 and p=0.494).

Conclusion:

Decrease in temperature was associated with testicular torsion in three macroregions of São Paulo. The findings support the theory of cold weather like a trigger in occurrence of testicular torsion in a tropical climate region.

Clinical Characteristics of Testicular Torsion and Identification of Predictors of Testicular Salvage in Children: A Retrospective Study in a Single Institution

PURPOSE

Testicular torsion (TT) is a serious surgical emergency. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of TT are essential to improve the incidence of salvaged testes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the historical features, physical examination findings, laboratory tests, and ultrasound examinations in children with TT, as well as to identify the predictors of testicular salvage in children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 136 males who presented with TT to our institution. Clinical findings, physical examinations, laboratory data, color Doppler ultrasound findings, operating results, and the results of follow-up were collected and analyzed. Patients with neonatal torsion, negative scrotal exploration, or testicular appendix torsion were excluded. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify predictors of testicular salvage. Receiver operator characteristics analyses were performed to determine the probability of a non-salvageable torsed testis based on time and degree of twisting.

RESULTS

A total of 136 children with TT were identified. Patients were aged from 1 to 16 years, with a mean age of 9.7 years (median, 12; range, 1-16 years). The peak incidences of TT were found between ages of 12 and 14 years. Acute TT is significantly more common in the winter. Testicular salvage occurred in 49 (36%) cases. Of the 49 cases of testicular salvage, 5 patients developed subsequent testicular atrophy. Cutoff values of 13.5 h and 530 degrees of torsion would provide sensitivities of 96 and 61%, with specificity of 80 and 70%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that time to surgery and degree of testicular twist were correlated with the risk of a non-salvageable testis.

CONCLUSIONS

Testicular salvage can be predicted by the duration of symptoms along with degree of twisting. Early scrotal exploration based on careful physical examination decreases the risk of misdiagnosis of spermatic cord torsion. A certain percentage of children with TT presenting with lower abdominal pain should have their testicles checked to make sure that they do not have torsion, especially those visitors in cold season.

Testicular torsion: epidemiological risk factors for orchiectomy in pediatric and adult patients

Testicular torsion is a known cause of morbidity in pediatric patients, but the burden in the adult population is poorly understood. We sought to determine the incidence of testicular torsion and risk factors for orchiectomy in a population encompassing all ages. A cohort analysis of 1625 males undergoing surgery for torsion was performed using the 2011 and 2012 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Emergency Departments Sample. Patient and hospital factors were examined for association with orchiectomy vs. testicular salvage. The estimated yearly incidence of testicular torsion was 5.9 per 100,000 males ages 1-17 years and 1.3 per 100,000 males ≥18 years. Among those undergoing surgical intervention, orchiectomy was performed in 33.6%. The risk of orchiectomy was highest in patients 1-11 years of age and patients over 50 years of age (46.0% and 69.7% of patients, respectively). Orchiectomy was also associated with public insurance (Medicaid/Medicare) or self-pay as primary payer. While testicular torsion is less common in the adult population, the rate of orchiectomy is high. Those with disadvantaged payer status are also at increased risk for testicular loss.

The relationship of seasonality and the increase in urinary tract infections among hospitalized patients with spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most frequent complication in patients who have spinal cord injury (SCI). The occurrence rate of UTI in this type of hospitalized patients was correlated to seasonality, age, and gender.

METHODS

Patients hospitalized during the 4-year study period with underlying SCI were identified from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients with a discharge diagnosis of UTI were identified as those with SCI and UTI; they were divided into the following four age groups: <18 years, 18 to 44 years, 45 to 64 years, and ≥65 years. The gender, monthly number of cases, major complication rate, seasonal differences, and odds ratios (ORs) of associated factors were analyzed.

RESULTS

Data of 30 149 hospitalized patients diagnosed with SCI were retrieved. SCI and UTI were diagnosed in 3405 (11.3%) patients, of them 2296 were males (67.4%) and 1109 were females (32.6%). The UTI occurrence rate in hospitalized SCI patients was higher in males (11.8%) than in females (10.4%) (OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.15-1.34); it was highest in the ≥65-year-old age group (12.8%) and lowest in the <18-year-old age group (5.8%) (OR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.83-3.44). The UTI occurrence rate varied from 7% to 18%, and it was highest in the summer (13.0% ± 2.6%) and lowest in the winter (10.2% ± 1.9%) (OR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.15-1.40). Acute pyelonephritis was the most common complication in SCI and UTI cases.

CONCLUSION

The mean occurrence rate of UTI in hospitalized SCI patients was 11.3%; it was higher in males, in patients aged ≥65 years, and in the summer. Therefore, physicians should pay attention to the occurrence of UTI in aged male patients with SCI, especially in the summer.

Acquired undescended testis and possibly associated testicular torsion in children with cerebral palsy or neuromuscular disease

INTRODUCTION

Torsion of an undescended testis (UDT) associated with cerebral palsy (CP) and neuromuscular disease (NMD) is an uncommon condition that is not well recognized by primary care physicians or healthcare providers.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to highlight the clinical importance of torsion of a UDT in children with CP and NMD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eleven children with testicular torsion of a UDT operated on at the study institute between 1991 and 2015 were identified. The records of seven children (63.6%) associated with CP or NMD were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical findings of testicular torsion were assessed along with the treatment outcome and testicular salvageability.

RESULTS

All seven children were not identified with a UDT by public health checkup for infant and young children. No children with CP or NMD had torsion of a descended testis during the present study period. Median age at surgery was 15 years (range, 1-20 years). The testis location was at the external inguinal ring in five patients, in the inguinal canal in one, and in the superficial inguinal pouch in one. Of the contralateral testes, four were a UDT, one was a retractile testis, and two were descended testes. Orchiectomy was performed in six patients (85.7%). In the remaining patients, the testis was preserved but became atrophic.

DISCUSSION

This study demonstrated that children with CP or NMD may be affected with torsion of a UDT with peak at around puberty with the poor salvage rate, even if the testes appear descended in infancy and young children. Shortcomings of this study were the retrospective design and a small series of children undergoing surgery for torsion of a UDT.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric urologists need to educate primary care physicians and healthcare providers in the recognition of acquired UDTs and possibly associated testicular torsion in children with CP and NMD. Genital examination should be continued regularly until adolescence in these children to detect acquired UDT. These children should be referred to pediatric urologists to promote surgery as soon as the diagnosis of acquired UDT is carried out. It is believed that it is perhaps the best approach to prevent loss of the testis in children with CP and NMD.

Immediate and delayed effects of atmospheric temperature in the incidence of testicular torsion

INTRODUCTION

Ongoing controversy surrounds the role of atmospheric temperature in the incidence of intravaginal testicular torsion (iTT). This debate may be attributed to inadequate research methodology. As environmental risk factors have been successfully investigated with distributed lag non-linear model regression (DLNM), we applied this methodology to investigate the association between daily mean atmospheric temperatures (Tmean) and daily incidences of intravaginal testicular torsion (iTT) in our region.

STUDY DESIGN

We analyzed time series consisting of the daily incidences of surgically confirmed iTT according to Tmean, in a circumscribed region in central Brazil from 2012 to 2015, with non-parametric tests, unadjusted and seasonally and long-term trend adjusted time series regression, as well as with DLNM.

RESULTS

We recovered 218 cases of iTT in 1125 days of study. Most patients were teenagers (median 15.8 years, interquartile range 14.1-18.5 years). Within the 188 days with events, a single event was recorded on 161 days, two events were recorded on 24 days, and three events were recorded on 3 days. Tmean was lower in days with iTT compared with days without iTT (median 21.4 °C vs. 20.9 °C, p = 0.0002). We found decreasing magnitude and uncertainty of the direction of the effect of Tmean as a risk factor for iTT as the time series regression model was adjusted for seasonal and long-term trends. DLNM indicated a more complex exposure-response relation, with a proportional increase in risk when Tmean fell below 19.4 °C at the day of exposure (for 18.0 °C, RR 4.35) and a protective effect, for similar temperatures, after 1-2 and 7-12 days of exposure (RR 0.44 and 0.78, respectively).

DISCUSSION

The association between lower Tmean and higher incidences of iTT at first observed with conventional non-parametric tests and unadjusted time series regression disappeared with adjusted time series regression models, reproducing the conflicting results of the literature. In contrast, DLNM revealed both a proportional effect of Tmean with decreasing temperatures and a delayed decrease in risk, suggesting a harvesting effect, seen when the pool of susceptible patients is depleted at exposure leading to a subsequent decrease in the incidence of the disease.

CONCLUSION

According to DLMN, exposures to lower Tmean were associated with immediate greater risk and delayed reduction in risk for iTT. This pattern, indicating a harvesting effect, strongly argues that low temperatures do constitute a risk factor for iTT.

Testicular torsion: A retrospective investigation of predictors of surgical outcomes and of remaining controversies

INTRODUCTION

Testicular torsion (TT), a common surgical emergency worldwide, is typically treated with orchiectomy or orchiopexy. It is widely accepted that the chance of salvaging the testicle declines with time and degree of torsion. The impact of ethnicity on outcome is less well understood, and the association between weather and onset of TT remains a controversy.

OBJECTIVES

It is important to know the signs of TT so that appropriate treatment can be given quickly. The purpose of this study was to provide a detailed analysis of registered cases of TT in adolescent patients diagnosed at a single institution to better understand the association between clinical indicators and surgical outcomes and to examine some remaining controversies in the literature on TT.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective chart review was conducted, using medical records from the present institution. Data were collected for 165 patients who met the following inclusion criteria: 1) adolescent males between 10 and 18 years of age at the time of diagnosis, and 2) TT between January 2001 and June 2013.

RESULTS

Of the 165 patients, 38% had orchiectomies. Patients with orchiectomies had longer wait times for surgery (p < 0.0001)-but not greater driving times, driving distances, or degrees of torsion-than those with orchiopexies (Table). Yet, among patients who waited less than the median wait time to surgery (197 min), patients with orchiectomies had greater degrees of torsion than did those with orchiopexies (p = 0.02). Assuming that patients without reference to presence of bell clapper deformity in their medical notes did not have the deformity, those with orchiectomies were less likely to have bell clapper deformity than were those with orchiopexies (p < 0.01). Although mean atmospheric temperature was unassociated with onset of TT and with surgical outcome in general, patients without bell clapper deformity had TT on relatively colder days (p = 0.02).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Wait time to surgery positively correlates with orchiectomy. Early identification and intervention is vital to testicular salvage. As the degree of torsion increases, the blood supply to the affected testis decreases and the time required to inflict testicular vascular damage decreases. Our results showed the presence of the bell clapper deformity moderated the relationship between temperature and TT: Those without the deformity had torsions on colder days than did those with the deformity. A comprehensive multi-centered study could help draw further conclusions regarding temperature correlation and the bell clapper deformity.

Patients with Epididymo-Orchitis and Meteorological Impact in Taiwan: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

Background. Epididymo-orchitis is a common infectious disease among men, especially men aged 20 to 39 years. The aim of this study was to analyze possible associations of various meteorological indicators on the incidence of epididymo-orchitis in Taiwan. Methods and Materials. This nationwide population-based study collected data on cases of epididymo-orchitis that were newly diagnosed from 2001 to 2013 in Taiwan. Monthly meteorological indicators, including average temperatures, humidity, rainfall, total rain days, and sunshine hours, were collected from the Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan. Data for a total of 7,233 patients with epididymo-orchitis were collected for this study. Results. The monthly incidence of epididymo-orchitis was positively correlated with temperature, rainfall, and sunshine hours. The average monthly temperature had a linear correlation with the incidence of epididymo-orchitis (ß = 0.11). The monthly average temperature is significantly related, with a positive linear correlation, to the incidence of epididymo-orchitis in Taiwan. Conclusion. This finding may constitute useful information in terms of helping physicians to distinguish between patients with epididymo-orchitis and testicular torsion in hot or cold weather.

[Meteo-U-rology: climate impact on urological emergencies]

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to analyze the weather influence on the onset of renal colic (RC), acute urinary retention (AUR) and testicular torsion (TT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We correlated the daily number of RC, AUR and TT cases admitted to our urology department and weather conditions between 2005 and 2009 on day-to-day basis. Eight hundred and seventy-six RC, 453 AUR and 50 TT were analyzed. Information on temperature, atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, vapor pressure, wind force, evapotranspiration and sunshine level were collected from the national meteorological office (Meteo-France) in Besançon, France. We performed a univariate and a multivariate Stepwise method in linear regression using Akaike Information Criterion.

RESULTS

We reported a statistically significant increased risk of renal colic at higher vapor pressure. Likewise, temperature seemed to be a risk factor for occurrence of renal colics. We determined an increased daily rate when maximal daily temperature rises above 20 Celsius degrees (P = 0.05). Furthermore, we observed a positive link between mean (P = 0.05) and minimal (P = 0.08) daily temperature and urolithiasis. Contrarywise AUR was more frequent when the mean temperature falls below zero Celsius degree. We also demonstrated a non-significant influence of temperature on TT, with 3 fold higher events during cold period. Much more mystic, we noted a higher AUR rate on new moon days, and fewer renal colic on full moon.

CONCLUSIONS

Further investigations are necessary to understand the mechanisms underlying the relationship between urologic diseases and climate. But our findings could help us justify healthy living messages.

Diurnal temperature change is associated with testicular torsion: a nationwide, population based study in Taiwan

PURPOSE

We investigated the association between climatic variables and testicular torsion in Taiwanese males.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database, we reviewed the files of patients who were diagnosed with testicular torsion and underwent orchiectomy or orchiopexy between January 1996 and December 2008. Children younger than 1 year were excluded from the study. Climatic data were provided by the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau and included ambient temperature, relative humidity, diurnal temperature change and barometric pressure. Patients with acute appendicitis who underwent appendectomy were chosen as the control group. Climatic variables in relation to testicular torsion were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test, and seasonal climatic variations using the Kruskal-Wallis H test. Relative risk was calculated to compare the incidence of testicular torsion for diurnal temperature changes.

RESULTS

A total of 65 patients with a mean age of 16.2 years presented with testicular torsion and were treated surgically. Four children younger than 1 year were excluded, and thus the study population consisted of 61 patients. The estimated incidence of testicular torsion was 2.58 per 100,000 person-years. There were no special climatic conditions on days of admission. However, 73.7% of the patients had testicular torsion when the diurnal temperature change was 6C or greater. Compared to the torsion rate for diurnal temperature changes less than 6C, the relative risk of testicular torsion at 6C or greater was 1.8 (p = 0.05). Average seasonal diurnal temperature change in the 2 days before hospitalization showed increases in all seasons except spring, which fluctuated.

CONCLUSIONS

Diurnal temperature change was associated with testicular torsion and may be an etiological climatic factor affecting this condition. This is the first known study to demonstrate an association between diurnal temperature change and testicular torsion.