Home men's Health Torsion of the spermatic cord: causes, symptoms and treatment

Torsion of the spermatic cord: causes, symptoms and treatment

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

Within men’s health, there are conditions that, if not treated quickly, can leave consequences as strong as permanent sterility and death of the testicles. However, sometimes this condition has not such severe symptoms. In this FastlyHealarticle, we will specifically address testicular Torsion, also called Torsion of the spermatic cord: causes, symptoms, and treatment, as well as actions and precautions to take if you want to avoid this problem or make the complications which it can derive are the least possible.

Torsion of the spermatic cord: causes

Testicular Torsion is a condition in the tubes that supply blood to the testicles. The lines become twisted or twisted, so blood flow is severely limited or completely interrupted. This then triggers testicular ischemia, that is, the lack of oxygen and consequent death of the scrotal cells. It usually occurs only unilaterally, that is, on only one side/testicle.

Testicular Torsion is considered an urgent medical emergency since every minute that a man passes with Torsion can be decisive for the survival of the testicle, its spermatogenic function, or if, on the contrary, it must be amputated.

Its incidence is very low, an approximate 1 case every 4000 to 5000 miles. It usually appears in most cases for no apparent reason. On other occasions, the causes or risk factors found for its appearance are:

  • Congenital disabilities in scrotal connective tissue.
  • The blows received in the testicles (for example, a kick or a bicycle).
  • It can also arise in people who exercise weights or in the event of an overstrain that loads or impacts the genital area.
  • Common in neonates and puberty (early adolescence) due to possible rapid or early growth of the testicles.
  • Tumors in the testicles.
  • Excessive exposure to ambient cold.
  • History of Testicular Torsion in the same patient and his family history.

Spermatic cord torsion: signs and symptoms

The most critical initial indicators of a possible sperm torsion are:

  • Sudden pain in one or both testicles or a little above them.
  • Elevation (withdrawal) of one or both scrotal bags.
  • Swelling of one or both testicles.
  • Hypersensitivity to touch and movement.
  • Flushing (redness) of the scrotum.
  • Nausea and vomiting (due to the intensity of the pain).
  • Blood in the semen ,

The Doppler scanner is the medical evaluation par excellence to confirm the existence of Torsion of the spermatic cord. Although other methods can also allow diagnosis, it is essential to remember that this is a medical emergency that should be treated as immediately as possible and not wait so long for tests.

Testicular Torsion: treatment

The primary treatment is surgical intervention. The interventions to be applied vary according to the progression of the torsion damage. The duct is untwisted if the testicle is still slightly inflamed and without damage to the tissue caused by ischemia.

If the ischemia has already left irreparable damage, but without producing necrosis of the testicle, a biopsy is performed, removing the damaged tissues, as they could compromise the patient’s health. In both situations previously mentioned, the surgeon usually sews the spermatic cord of both testicles to prevent this problem from happening again.

If the necrosis or damage is too severe, the testicle is removed. To ‘save’ a testicle suffering from this problem, it is suggested that the surgical intervention be carried out in the first 3 hours, a maximum of 6. Once the 12 hours have been reached, the safest thing is that there is irreparable damage to the scrotum, and after one day, the condition is generally already necrosis and the need for its removal.

Special care and urgency must be taken in the attention of this condition when the reason for the Torsion is blows, overexertion, or extreme cold since the reaction and Torsion produced are generally more robust, which leads to a much more accelerated ischemic process.

After this operation, the patient should wait at least a couple of months to resume impact physical activities and sexual activity. Three months are suggested if the case is severe, as in destruction.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Torsion of the spermatic cord: causes, symptoms, and treatment , we recommend that you enter our category of Male reproductive system .

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