Testicular torsion and climate changes in macroregions of São Paulo, Brazil / Torção testicular e diferenças climáticas nas macrorregiões do estado de São Paulo, Brasil

ABSTRACT 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.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a associação entre mudanças climáticas nas macrorregiões do estado de São Paulo e os casos tratados com torção testicular registrados. Métodos: Os casos foram selecionados no Banco de Dados do Sistema de Dados de Saúde Pública do Brasil de janeiro de 2008 a novembro de 2016. Todos os registros de procedimentos cirúrgicos foram identificados pelo documento de Autorização de Internação Hospitalar. Dois códigos foram selecionados para processar a busca: torção testicular (código de cura cirúrgica) e escroto agudo (código de escrototomia exploratória). As macrorregiões foram agrupadas em cinco áreas ligadas às características climáticas pela Classificação Internacional de Clima Köppen. Resultados: Foram registrados 2.351 casos de torção testicular no período. Para as áreas B, C e E (torção testicular n=2.130), foram encontradas diferenças estatísticas na associação dos casos de torção testicular e diminuição da temperatura (p=0,019, p=0,001 e p=0,006, respectivamente), mas nas análises das áreas A e D não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas (p=0,066 e p=0,494). Conclusão: A diminuição da temperatura foi associada à torção testicular em três macrorregiões de São Paulo. Os resultados apoiam a teoria do clima frio como um gatilho para ocorrência de torção testicular em uma região de clima tropical.

Torsion du cordon spermatique chez l'adulte. Aspects diagnostiques, thérapeutiques et pronostiques au Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire Sylvanus Olympio de Lomé

Objectifs : Etudier les aspects diagnostiques, thérapeutiques et pronostiques des torsions du cordon spermatique. Patients et méthodes : Il s'agissait d'une étude prospective, et était inclus dans l'étude tous les patients de plus de 15 ans admis en urgence pour une douleur scrotale aiguë et chez qui le diagnostic d'une torsion du cordon spermatique était suspecté durant la période d'étude.Résultats : Sur une période de 12 mois allant du 1er janvier 2015 au 31 décembre 2015, 22 patients étaient colligés. L'âge moyen des patients était de 22 ans avec des extrêmes allant de 17 à 35 ans. Le diagnostic était clinique dans tous les cas et dans 100% des cas les constatations per opératoires étaient en faveur d'une torsion du cordon spermatique. Le tour maximum de spire était de 4 tours. L'orchidectomie avait été réalisée chez 4 patients. Dans tous les autres cas une orchidopexie bilatérale était réalisée.Conclusion : La vitalité du testicule dans les torsions du cordon spermatique est surtout fonction de la durée de la torsion et du degré de la torsion

Cold weather is a predisposing factor for testicular torsion in a tropical country. A retrospective study / Clima frio é um fator predisponente para torção testicular num país tropical. Um estudo retrospectivo

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Testicular torsion is a medical and urological emergency because it can lead to loss of the organ. The theory of seasonal testicular torsion occurrence is based on studies from institutions located in cold and temperate regions. The objective here was to determine whether cold weather is associated with higher incidence of testicular torsion in a tropical country, such as Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study, conducted in a tertiary and teaching hospital. METHODS: Patients with acute testicular torsion confirmed by surgery between April 2006 and March 2011 were studied. Information on weather conditions at the time of symptom onset was collected. RESULTS: A total of 64 testicular torsion cases were identified. The months with the highest incidences of testicular torsion were June (16%), July (19%) and August (11%), which had the lowest mean temperatures, of 17.6 °C, 16.4 °C and 18.2 °C, respectively. Eleven percent of cases occurred during spring (October to December), 16% occurred in summer (January to March), 34% occurred in fall (April to June) and 39% occurred in winter (July to September). There was a significant association between the incidence of testicular torsion and the season (fall and winter), P < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Testicular torsion follows a seasonal association even in a tropical country, and is more frequent in the colder months of the year, namely fall and winter, when almost three-quarters of the cases occurred. These observations add further evidence that cold weather has an etiologic role in testicular torsion occurrence. .

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: A torção testicular é uma emergência médica e urológica, pois pode levar à perda do órgão. A teoria da ocorrência sazonal da torção testicular é baseada em estudos de instituições localizadas em regiões frias e temperadas. O objetivo foi determinar se o clima frio está associado a uma maior incidência de torção testicular em um país tropical, como o Brasil. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo retrospectivo, realizado em um hospital terciário e de ensino. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados pacientes com torção testicular aguda confirmada na cirurgia, durante o período de abril de 2006 a março de 2011. Informações sobre as condições climáticas no início dos sinto-mas foram coletadas. RESULTADOS: Um total de 64 casos de torção testicular foi identificado. Os meses com maiores incidên-cias foram junho (16%), julho (19%) e agosto (11%), que assinalaram as menores temperaturas médias, de 17,6 °C, 16,4 °C e 18,2 °C, respectivamente. Onze por cento dos casos ocorreram durante a primavera (outubro a dezembro), 16% no verão (janeiro a março), 34% no outono (abril a junho) e 39% no inverno (julho, agosto, setembro). Houve associação significante entre a incidência de torção testicular e a estação (outono e inverno), P < 0,001. CONCLUSÃO: Torção testicular obedece a uma predileção sazonal mesmo num país tropical, sendo mais fre-quente nos meses mais frios do ano, particularmente no outono e inverno, quando ocorrem quase três quartos dos casos. Estes achados acrescentam evidência a um papel etiológico do clima frio na torção testicular. .

Aspects epidemiologique; clinique et therapeutique de la torsion du cordon spermatiques (TCS) a l'hopital provincial du nord - Kivu en Republique democratique du Congo

Objectif : Decrire les aspects epidemiologiques; cliniques et therapeutiques de la torsion du cordon spermatique. Patients et methodes : Cette etude retrospective a ete menee dans le service de chirurgie de l'Hopital Provincial du Nord - Kivu a l'Est de la Republique Democratique du Congo. Elle a concerne 21 patients operes pour torsion du cordon spermatique durant une periode de 7 ans allant du 1er Janvier 2005 au 31 Decembre 2011.Resultat : La frequence de la torsion du cordon spermatique a ete de 21cas sur 76 soit 27.6. Elle est la deuxieme etiologie de grosses bourses aigue apres l'orchiepididymite (60;5). La tranche d'age la plus touchee se situait entre 15 - 19 ans (38). La moyenne d'age etait de 22ans +_4;58 avec des extremes allant de 2 a 43 ans. La douleur aigue de l'hemibourse homolaterale a ete le principal motif de consultation (100). La majorite des patients soit 57;1 ont consulte plus de 6 heures apres le debut de la maladie; exposant ainsi le testicule a un risque majeur de necrose. Au cours de l'operation; 16 testicules (76;19) ont ete juges viables et une orchidopexie bilaterale a ete pratiquee. Une orchidectomie completee par une orchidopexie controlaterale a ete realisee chez 5 patients (23;80). Les suites operatoires ont ete simples dans 90;47 des cas. La duree d'hospitalisation a ete de 6;1jours+_1;25.Conclusion : La torsion du cordon spermatique demeure une urgence chirurgie qui met en jeu la vitalite du testicule lorsqu'elle est diagnostiquee et traitee de facon tardive

Testicular torsion and weather conditions: analysis of 21,289 cases in Brazil

PURPOSE: The hypothesis of association between testicular torsion and hyperactive cremasteric reflex, worsened by cold weather, has not been proved. Thirteen studies in the literature evaluated this issue, with inconclusive results. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the seasonality of testicular torsion in a large subset of patients surgically treated in Brazil, and additionally to estimate the incidence of testicular torsion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Brazilian Public Health System Database was assessed from 1992-2010 to evaluate hospital admissions associated with treatment of testicular torsion. Average monthly temperature between 1992-2010 was calculated for each region. RESULTS: We identified 21,289 hospital admissions for treatment of testicular torsion. There was a higher number of testicular torsions during colder months (p = 0.002). To estimate the incidence of testicular torsion, we have related our findings to data from the last Brazilian census (2010). In 2010, testicular torsion occurred in 1.4:100,000 men in Brazil. CONCLUSIONS:Testicular torsion occurred at an annual incidence of approximately 1.4:100,000 men in Brazil in 2010. Seasonal variations do occur, with a significant increase of events during winter. Our findings support the theory of etiological role of cold weather to the occurrence of testicular torsion. Strategies to prevent these events can be based on these findings.

Diagnóstico diferencial y manejo del escroto agudo en niños / Differential diagnosis and management of the acute scrotum in children

Acute scrotum is a common entity found in pediatric emergency rooms all over the world. This is a syndrome in which fast and accurate diagnosis is vital to perform an effective treatment of the underlying disease. Testicular torsion is the first diagnosis that has to be discarded. Torsion of appendix testis and epididymitis or orchitis must also be considered. If clinical signs are compatible with testicular torsion, and especially if the condition has not passed the six hours threshold, surgical exploration has to be perform at once. Radiological tests cannot delaysurgical exploration. Detorsion must be achieved as soon as possible to prevent irreversible ischemia and necrosis of the testicle that could lead to an orchiectomy. Once the torsion is relieved, the testicle must be placed in warm, moist sponges to test for adequate perfusion. If the testicle has acceptable blood supply, both testicles have to be fixed to prevent similar events in the future. If health providers are familiarized with the clinical presentation of these conditions, testicular torsion and other causes of acute scrotum could be diagnosed and treated rapidly and therefore important complications, such as fertility impairment, could be prevented.

Acute scrotum -etiology, clinical presentation and seasonal variation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the etiology, history, physical examination findings, and seasonal variation of acute scrotal problems in children. METHODS: A retrospective review of all boys, presenting with acute scrotum to the Pediatric Surgery Clinic of the University Hospital Heraklion between January 1989 and December 2006 was performed. RESULTS: A total of 140 boys presented with scrotal pain were included. Overall the commonest cause of acute scrotum was epididymo-orchitis (35%, 95%CI: 27%-43%), followed by torsion of appendages. In contrast the most common cause in boys of preschool age was spermatic cord torsion (P<0.020). All cases of spermatic cord torsion were characterized by severe testicular pain and an absent cremasteric reflex. The interval between pain initiation and presentation to our clinic was 11.4 hours (SD:3.07) when the testis was salvaged by detorsion, and 19.0 hours (SD:6.32) when the testis was removed. The difference between means was statistical significant (p<0.001). The incidence of torsion of appendages (p<0.036) and/or spermatic cord (p<0.047) was increased in winter. CONCLUSION: The absence of cremasteric reflex in association with testicular tenderness strongly suggests testicular torsion. The low temperatures during winter may account for the increased incidence of the torsion of both the spermatic cord torsion and the appendages.

Escroto agudo / Acute scrotum

La denominación de escroto agudo incluye a todas las condiciones patológicas que producen dolor intenso y súbito casi siempre acompañado de inflamación de la bolsa escrotal; las principales causas son: torsión testicular; torsión de apéndices testiculares, hernia inguinal encarcelada y estrangulada, trauma testicular y orquiepididimitis. El escroto agudo constituye 0.13 por ciento de las consultas en una unidad de urgencias pediátricas. Sólo en la mitad de los casos el cuadro clínico es "clasico" y mientras no exista un estudio con sensibilidad y especificidad de 100 por ciento se propone que todos los pacientes con escroto agudo deben ser explorados quirúrgicamente; el tratamiento definitivo dependerá de la patología y su pronóstico de fertilidad estará en relación directa con el tiempo del tratamiento. La finalidad de la presente comunicación es proporcionar información esencial a pediatras y médicos en general que manejan niños, pues son ellos quienes tienen el primer contacto con el enfermo. Se pretende facilitar el establecimiento de un diagnóstico e instituir un tratamiento definitivo con la consecuente disminución de los problemas de fertilidad secundarios a la torsión no recuperada