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. .

Apéndices testicular y epididimario en individuos brasileños / Testicular and epididymal appendices in Brazilian individuals

Los apéndices testiculares y epididimarios son remanescentes embriológicos del conducto paramesonéfrico y del conducto mesonéfrico, respectivamente. Estos apéndices pueden sufrir torsión causando un cuadro conocido como escroto agudo. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo determinar las variaciones de los apéndices testicular y epididimario, registrando su forma y tamaño. Se utilizaron 30 cadáveres de indivíduos adultos, Brasileños, con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 70 años, fijados en formaldehído 40%, facilitados por el Laboratorio de Anatomía Descriptiva y Topográfica de la Universidad Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Maceió, Brasil. A través de disección se identificó la presencia de los respectivos apéndices, los que fueron medidos con un caliper manual (MetricaR), registrando su longitud y anchura. Los apéndices testiculares fueron observados en 41 testículos (68,3%) y los apéndices epididimarios en 15 casos (25%). El promedio de la longitud fue de 4,9 mm (DE=1,7) para el apéndice testicular y de 5,2 mm (DE=2,4) para el epididimario. Con respecto a la anchura de los apéndices, el promedio registrado fue de 3,2 mm (DE=1,7) para el testicular y de 2,6 mm (DE=0,9) para el epididimario. Los datos obtenidos puede ser utlizados como soporte morfológico a la clínica urológica y cirugía testicular.

Testicular and epididymal appendages are embryologic remnants of the mesonephric duct and paramesonephric, respectively. These appendices are subject to a torsion causing condition known as acute scrotal syndrome. This study aimed to determine the variations of testicular and epididymal appendices, registering its presence and size. We studied 30 cadavers of adult individuals, Brazilians, aged 18 and 70, fixed in formaldehyde 40%, provided by the Laboratory of Descriptive and Topographic Anatomy of the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Maceió, Brazil. By dissecting these, the presence of the respective appendixes were identified, which were measured with a manual caliper (Metrica), recording its length and width. The testicular appendices were observed in 41 testes (68.3%) and epididymal appendices in 15 cases (25%). The average length was 4.9 mm (SD=1.7) for the appendix testis and epididymis to 5.2 mm (SD=2.4). With respect to the width of the appendices, the average recorded were 3.2 mm (SD=1.7) and 2.6 mm (SD=0.9) for testicular and epididymal, respectively. The data obtained can be used as morphological support in urological clinical and testicular surgery.

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.

Extravaginal testicular torsion: a clinical entity with unspecified surgical anatomy

PURPOSE: To review and evaluate the anatomical definitions of perinatal extravaginal torsion (EVT) of the testis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An extensive review of the literature was made to reveal the prevalent anatomical background predisposing to EVT. Gross appearance of twisted testes obtained during surgery for 14 cases of EVT was used to test the validity of the above theories. RESULTS: The most commonly accepted suggestions describe an EVT within dartos muscle that includes all layers of spermatic cord or an EVT outside parietal layer of tunica vaginalis within internal spermatic fascia. However, both of them were found inadequately documented, while a large volume of controversial data has been accumulated, that raises doubts regarding the validity of such definitions. The gross appearance of twisted testes failed to confirm both an EVT including all layers of the spermatic cord and also an EVT outside tunica vaginalis as possible mechanisms of torsion. CONCLUSION: The anatomical basis of EVT remains unclear and further investigation is required.

Acute scrotum in 7 cases of Schoenlein-Henoch syndrome

Schoenlein-Henoch syndrome (SHS), one of the manifestations of systemic vasculitis, usually involves the skin, gastrointestinal tract, joints and kidney. Since the involvement of male genitalia is very rare and there is little mention of it in textbooks, doctors have a tendency to neglect this finding in SHS. Unless there is a confirming diagnosis, it is easily mistaken for testicular torsion and the patients undergo unnecessary operations because they complain of unbearable scrotal pain. SHS is not uncommon in Korea, but hardly any cases of scrotal involvement are found. We have experienced 7 cases of acute scrotum associated with SHS admitted to Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine during the last 20 years; 2 underwent operation and 5 received conservative treatment only.

Torsion of the spermatic cord

The clinical features and pathology of four cases of torsion of the spermatic cord treatedm ar Holberton Hospital between December 1987 and January 1988 were reviewed. The lack of prompt clinical diagnosis delayed therapy in all cases, resulting in orchidectomy. The findings re-emphazise the need for early diagosis and surgical exploration of equivocal cases of acute unilateral scrotal pain if salvage rates are to be improved