Page 14 - SONO 260 Chapter 13 The Male Pelvis

PATHOLOGY OF THE SCROTUM TESTICULAR TORSION
• IT IS A TRUE SURGICAL EMERGENCY IN WHICH TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
• IN FACT, SALVAGE RATES RANGE FROM 80-100% IF THE PATIENT IS TREATED
WITHIN 6 HOURS OF SYMPTOM ONSET.
• AFTER THIS TIME, THE SALVAGE RATES DROP CONSIDERABLY.
• THE TESTICLE IS USUALLY NOT SALVAGEABLE AFTER 24 HOURS.
• TESTICULAR TORSION CAN BE ASSOCIATED WITH TRAUMA, STRENUOUS EXERCISE, AND SEXUAL ACTIVITY.
• OFTEN PATIENTS WHO ARE PREDISPOSED TO DEVELOP TESTICULAR TORSION HAVE A CONDITION KNOWN AS THE “BELL-CLAPPER” DEFORMITY.
• THIS CONGENITAL ABNORMALITY DESCRIBES THE SITUATION IN WHICH THE PATIENT LACKS THE NORMAL POSTERIOR FIXATION OF THE TESTIS AND EPIDIDYMIS TO THE SCROTAL WALL. BELL-CLAPPER DEFORMITY IS CLASSICALLY BILATERAL.
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