Re-presentations and recurrent events following initial management of the acute paediatric scrotum: a 5-year review.

BACKGROUND

Previous reviews report relatively low rates of post-operative complications for acute scrotal exploration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the re-presentation to hospital in boys with previous acute scrotal pathology, reviewing contralateral symptoms, post-operative complications, testicular torsion following fixation and failure of conservative management of testicular appendage (TA) torsion.

METHODS

All boys under 16 years presenting to our unit with an acute scrotum from January 2008 to December 2012 (5-year period) were identified. A retrospective review of clinical records was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 683 boys presented over this 5-year period, with an overall re-presentation rate of 10%. Seventeen (25%) re-presentations were metachronous. Post-operative complication rate was 2.2%. Testicular torsion rate following orchiopexy was 0.3% (1/292). Thirty-three percent of those managed conservatively for TA torsion returned with ongoing pain; 80% underwent scrotal exploration on return. Eight boys returned following excision of a torted TA with contralateral torted TA confirmed, accounting for 2.6% (8/308) of boys with a torted TA at first presentation. This gives a number-needed-to-treat of 39 for bilateral scrotal exploration and prophylactic excision of contralateral non-torted TA, to prevent one boy from returning to hospital with a metachronous presentation.

CONCLUSION

Further prolonged follow-up is needed to adequately assess recurrence rates of testicular torsion following orchiopexy to validate routine orchiopexy. Post-operative complication rates equal that of the return rate for a contralateral torted TA; this needs to be considered in proceeding to bilateral scrotal exploration on finding a torted TA at initial presentation.