Testicular characteristics of children with cerebral palsy: Our experience

• Published in: Indian journal of cerebral palsy 2016-07, Vol.2 (2), p.79
• Main Authors: Aliyu, Ibrahim, Mohammed, Abdulsalam, Belonwu, Raymond, Ibrahim, ZainabFumilayo, Umar, UmarIsah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Caregivers; Cerebral palsy; Children & youth; Classification; Congenital diseases; Neurology; Studies; Urology
• ISSN: 2395-4264; 2395-4264
• DOI: 10.4103/ijcp.ijcp_2_17

Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a chronic neurologic disorder. The hallmark of CP is the abnormality of movement and posture, but there may be other associated abnormalities; however, association with absent testis is an area poorly studied. Materials and Methods: This was a case-control study. Pretested questionnaire was administered by the researchers, and testicular size was determined using an orchidometer. Results: Thirty-six (65.5%) of the caregivers in the cerebral palsy group had examined the testes of their wards while only 17 (30.9%) of those in the noncerebral palsy group had examined the testes of their wards. Absent testes were reported in 5 (13.9%) of the children in the cerebral palsy group while none was reported in the non-CP group. Three (60%) left testes were reported absent in the CP group, and two (40%) had both testes absent. Most caregivers (80%) could not remember the exact age at which the testes became nonpalpable, but one (20%) was reported at < 1-year of life and none at birth. Only one caregiver (20%) complained of absent testes in the cerebral palsy group. A total of 8 (7.3%) testes were absent from the 110 testes (55 pairs); on the right side, 3 (5.5%) absent testes and 2 small testes were recorded among the CP group while only a single small testis was reported in the non-CP group. Conclusion: Absent testes were more common among the CP group; routine check of its presence and size should be a part of their evaluation.