In the USA, the annual incidence of testicular torsion affects about one in 4,000 males younger than 25 years. In testicular torsion, the testes twist (rotate) around the spermatic cord. The spermatic cord is the life line of the testes and carries with it important blood vessels and duct that carries sperm.
When the testis twists around the spermatic cord, the blood supply to the testes is cut off. Within a few hours, the testes can be severely damaged and infertility is a common end result if there is any delay in treatment. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment.
Testicular torsion primarily affects teenagers and young adults in the 2nd decade of life, but it can also occur at any age. Males with one or both testicles which have not descended into scrotum (cryptorchidism) develop testicular torsion more often than the general population.
Torsion may occur spontaneously. In about 5-10% of males, it may result from direct trauma to the groin. Other factors that may increase the risk of torsion include an increase in testicular size (volume), presence of a testicular tumor, testis which lies along a horizontal plane, a history of failure of the testes to descend into the groin and a long spermatic cord. Torsion often occurs during sleep.
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