How Is Testicular Torsion Treated?
Testicular torsion almost always needs surgery to fix. In rare cases, the doctor
might be able to untwist the spermatic cord by pushing on the scrotum, but most guys
will still need surgery to attach both testicles to the scrotum to prevent torsion
from happening in the future.
Most torsion surgeries are done on an outpatient basis (with no overnight hospital
stay). If your son has a torsion, he'll be given a painkiller and general
anesthesia to make him unconscious for the procedure.
Surgery consists of making a small cut in the scrotum, untwisting the spermatic
cord, and stitching both testicles to the inside of the scrotum to prevent future
torsions. Afterward, your son will be taken to a recovery room to rest for an hour
or two.
After surgery, your son will need to avoid strenuous activities for a few weeks,
and if he's sexually active, he'll need to avoid all sexual activity. Talk to the
doctor about when it will be safe for your son to return to his normal activities.
Testicle Removal
If a torsion goes on too long, doctors won't be able to save the affected testicle
and it will be removed in a surgical procedure called an orchiectomy.
Most boys who have a testicle removed but still have a viable testicle can father
children later in life. However, many also opt for a prosthetic, or artificial, testicle
a few months after surgery. This can help make some boys feel more comfortable about
their appearance.
With newborn boys, saving the testicle depends on when the torsion happens. If
it's before a boy is born, it may be impossible to save the testicle. In this case,
the doctor may recommend a surgery at a later date to remove the affected testicle.
If torsion symptoms appear after a baby is born, the doctor may recommend emergency
surgery to correct the testicle.
Don't Ignore Symptoms
Boys need to know that genital pain is serious. Ignoring pain or simply hoping
it goes away can lead to severe damage to the testicle and even its removal.
Even if your son has pain in his scrotum that goes away, he still needs to tell
you or a doctor and get checked out. A torsion that goes away makes him more likely
to have another one in the future. Doctors can greatly reduce the risk of another
torsion by securing the testicles to the scrotum.
If your son had a torsion that resulted in the loss of a testicle, it's important
to let him know that he can still lead a normal life, just like anyone else. The loss
of one testicle won't prevent a man from having normal sexual relations and is unlikely
to interfere with fathering children.
Date reviewed: April 2017