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Last reviewed: 16 Mar 2025
Last updated: 05 Mar 2025

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • testicular pain
  • intermittent pain
  • no pain relief upon elevation of scrotum
  • scrotal swelling or oedema
  • scrotal erythema
  • reactive hydrocele
  • high-riding testicle
  • horizontal lie
  • absent cremasteric reflex

Other diagnostic factors

  • nausea and vomiting
  • abdominal pain
  • fever

Risk factors

  • age under 25 years
  • neonate
  • bell clapper deformity
  • trauma/exercise
  • intermittent testicular pain
  • undescended testicle
  • cold weather

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • Testicular Workup for Ischaemia and Suspected Torsion (TWIST) score
  • ultrasound with Doppler flow imaging

Treatment algorithm

Contributors

Authors

Hemanshoo Thakkar, MBBS, BSc, FRCS (Paed)

Consultant Paediatric Surgeon

Evelina London Children’s Hospital

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

London

UK

Disclosures

HT declares that he has no conflicting interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr Hemanshoo Thakkar would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Richard Lee, Dr Caroline Kang, and Dr Jessica Marinaro, Dr George Kaplan, Dr Deborah Dean, and Dr Paul Hamilton, the previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

RL has received funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. CK, JM, GK, DD, and PH declared that they had no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Eugene Minevich, MD, FAAP, FACS

Associate Professor

Division of Pediatric Urology

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Cincinnati

OH

Disclosures

EM declares that he has no competing interests.

Simon E. Kenny, BSc, ChB (Hons), MD, FRCS (Paed), FAAP

Consultant Pediatric Surgeon/Urologist

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Liverpool

UK

Disclosures

SEK declares that he has no competing interests.

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