Umaakanth Soundar C. S1, Ashwin Chand2, Authy3, Sharath Rajkumar4
BACKGROUND
Acute scrotum is defined as "the acute onset of pain and swelling of the scrotum that requires either emergency surgical intervention or specific medical therapy." Several acute scrotal conditions can present in similar way. Testicular torsion is by far the most significant. Testicular torsion is a true surgical emergency because the likelihood of testicular salvage decreases as the duration of torsion increases.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study was conducted by a retrospective and a prospective analysis of the patients who were admitted with acute scrotum in all the surgical units of the Department of General Surgery, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, between May 2011 and October 2013. A total of 60 patients who presented with acute scrotum were included in the study.
RESULTS
In our study, acute epididymo-orchitis was to be the commonest cause for acute scrotum accounting for 40% of total cases. In this study of 60 cases, 24 cases (40%) were managed conservatively who were diagnosed to have epididymo-orchitis. All other cases (60%) needed surgical treatment.
CONCLUSION
Any young patient presenting with acute scrotum, torsion of testis must be considered and evaluated. All the cases of acute scrotum must be subjected for USG Doppler of the scrotum. In patients with torsion testis presenting within 6 hours of onset of symptoms, testis can be salvaged.
