The baby required emergency surgery to remove one damaged testicle and restore the second to its proper position in the scrotum. The baby now has only one testicle but will be able to lead a normal adult life in the next few years, doctors said.
Published Date – Sunday 11 December 22 at 02:15 PM
Hyderabad: Doctors at the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU) announced on Sunday that they have successfully treated a three-month-old boy with a rare “testicular” disorder called testicular torsion.
The baby required emergency surgery to remove one damaged testicle and restore the second to its proper position in the scrotum. The baby now has only one testicle but will be able to lead a normal adult life in the next few years, doctors said.
The boy’s parents noticed that he was crying when his private parts were touched, especially the left side, and rushed him to the AINU for evaluation. Doctors at AINU diagnosed the condition as testicular torsion, in which the blood supply to the testicle is found to be twisted, causing severe pain. This condition is usually seen in the neonatal and adolescent age groups or any other pediatric age group with a low incidence. This condition is classified as a medical emergency and requires immediate medical or surgical intervention.
This particular situation is rare, occurring in one in 100,000 newborns.
Commenting on the case, Dr. Prabhu Karunakaran, Consultant Pediatric Urology, Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology, said: “The movement of the testicles in the scrotum, sometimes the unfixed testicles rotate around their own axis and lose blood supply. The testicle whose blood supply is cut off will most likely be damaged, in which case we have to remove the left testicle as well. We immobilized the other testicle back quickly because the other testicle may have similar anatomy and there is a potential risk of torsion, which could result in a child without a testicle. Only immobilization of the other testicle can ensure the baby’s Left – testicles are safe”
“The typical symptom of testicular torsion is severe pain near the testicle or in the lower abdomen. This pain is likely to be triggered during adolescent sports activities or any other form of physical activity. It is strongly recommended not to ignore this pain in your child’s private parts, preferably Immediate medical attention within six hours can help salvage the testicle in the event of torsion, there may be limited other causes of this symptom, but emergency room visits are to rule out other factors,” adds Dr Prabhu Karunakaran.
The boy now has only one testicle, which is unlikely to have any adverse effects on his adult life. However, doctors say the boy may experience some psychological effects as he grows up, which can be addressed with testicular implants, a safe medical procedure.
