TESTICULAR TORSION

A retrospective review of 80 patients who underwent scrotal exploratio n for presumed testicular torsion is presented. Of these, 67 patients were found to have torsion, and the testicular loss rate was 51%. Pati ents who experienced delays in scrotal exploration of more than 24 h f rom onset of symptoms had a testicular loss rate of 71%. These delays arose from both hesitation in seeking medical treatment and misdiagnos es. It is emphasized that an acute scrotum in a child or in an adolesc ent should be explored early to exclude torsion.