Characteristics and management of testicular torsion in patients admitted to the Urology Department at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital

Background The study was carried out to determine the trend of referrals with testicular torsion; the pre-surgery duration of symptoms; the rate of orchidectomy; as well as the seasonality and the age-related laterality of testicular torsion. Methods This was a retrospective study conducted at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital using patients’ records from 2006 to 2018 from which data were obtained and analyzed. Results A total of 308 patients with testicular torsion were included in this study; the mean age was 17.2 ± 4.12 (10–33) years. The median (IQR) time from onset to hospital was 47 h, and 194/308 (63%) underwent orchidectomy. Although the orchidectomy rate was higher (95%) in those who had surgery beyond 72 h, 3.6% had reperfusion after detorsion in theater followed by orchidopexy. In the 112 patients who underwent a bilateral orchidopexy, the time from onset of symptoms to surgery was significantly shorter at a median (IQR) of 13 (9–26) h, compared to 144 (40–264) h in the 194 patients who had an orchidectomy ( p < 0.0001). The odds of presenting with a right -sided testicular torsion increases by 6% ( p = 0.047) for every 1-year increase in age. Conclusion This study shows that there is a significant association between the pre-surgery duration of symptoms and the testicular salvage rate. Testicular salvage is possible beyond 72 h from the onset of symptoms, although the salvage rate reduces from 75% within 24 h to 3.6% beyond 72 h. In addition, it also shows that older patients tend to present with right-sided torsion.