Aetiology, epidemiology and management strategies for blunt scrotal trauma

• Published in: The surgeon (Edinburgh) 2016-02, Vol.14 (1), p.18-21
• Main Authors: Dalton, D.M, Davis, N.F, O'Neill, D.C, Brady, C.M, Kiely, E.A, O'Brien, M.F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Diagnostic Imaging - methods; Disease Management; Emergency Service, Hospital; Humans; Iceland - epidemiology; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Scrotum - injuries; Surgery; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - epidemiology; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - etiology; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - therapy; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1479-666X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.surge.2014.06.006

Abstract Objectives To describe our experience of all patients presenting to a tertiary referral centre over a 3 year time period with blunt scrotal trauma and to describe a methodical approach for managing this group of patients. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) of a level 1 trauma centre with blunt scrotal trauma from 2010 to 2013 inclusive. Inclusion criteria included a recent history of blunt scrotal trauma with associated pain and/or swelling of the affected testis on clinical examination. Results Twenty-seven male patients with a median age of 19 (range 8–65) years were included and all but 1 patient underwent scrotal ultrasonography upon presentation. Sixteen patients (59%) presented with scrotal trauma secondary to a sports related injury. Fifteen patients were managed conservatively and of the 12 who underwent urgent exploration 9 had a testicular rupture, including 1 who had an emergency orchidectomy due to a completely shattered testis. Four patients had >30% of the testis replaced by necrotic tissue/haematoma; of which 2 ultimately underwent orchidectomy and insertion of testicular prosthesis. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that the necessity for scrotal protection in sports that predispose to scrotal trauma should be reviewed. We also demonstrate the importance of scrotal ultrasonography for determining an appropriate management strategy (i.e. conservative versus surgical treatment) in this young patient cohort.