A 21-year-old engineering student narrowly avoided testicle removal after doctors at Medicover Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, promptly diagnosed and treated testicular torsion, a medical emergency that cuts off blood supply to the testicle. The patient arrived at the emergency department with sudden, severe pain in the left scrotum, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. A clinical examination and scrotal Doppler ultrasound confirmed the condition, prompting the surgical team to perform emergency surgery. Dr Vikas Bhise, Urologist at Medicover Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, led the intervention. By untwisting the spermatic cord and restoring blood circulation, the team saved the affected testicle and avoided its removal.
Sudden Scrotal Pain Leads to Emergency Diagnosis
The patient developed severe pain in the left scrotal region along with nausea and vomiting. He visited Medicover Hospitals and was referred to the emergency department by Dr Swapnil Pawar. During the initial assessment, doctors observed swelling and significant tenderness in the left side of the scrotum. The team promptly admitted the patient, administered medication for pain management and initiated further investigations. A scrotal Doppler ultrasound confirmed left testicular torsion with a complete interruption of blood flow. Since prolonged loss of circulation can cause irreversible damage to the testicle, the doctors immediately prepared the patient for emergency surgery.
Emergency Surgery Restores Blood Supply
Testicular torsion occurs when the spermatic cord twists and restricts blood flow to the testicle. The condition requires immediate medical attention because delays can significantly reduce the chances of saving the affected organ. Dr Vikas Bhise said, “Testicular torsion occurs when the spermatic cord twists and blocks the blood supply to the testicle. It requires immediate surgical treatment, ideally within about 4–6 hours of symptom onset, as the chances of permanent damage increase as the duration of blood-flow interruption increases.”
He added that testicular torsion can occur without an obvious injury or physical activity and may develop during sleep or rest. Although the condition most commonly affects adolescents and young men, an underlying anatomical variation known as a bell-clapper deformity can increase the risk. Dr Bhise advised people to seek immediate medical attention if they experience sudden testicular pain, scrotal swelling, nausea, vomiting, lower abdominal pain or an unusually high position of the affected testicle. Rather than waiting for the pain to subside or attempting home treatment, patients should visit an emergency department immediately.
Prompt Intervention Helps Preserve the Testicle
In this case, the Doppler ultrasound revealed a complete interruption of blood flow, leaving no room for delay. The surgical team immediately moved the patient to the operation theatre. Dr Bhise, supported by anaesthetist Dr Supriya and scrub nurse Mr Vinayak, performed surgical exploration and untwisted the affected testicle. Initially, the testicle appeared dusky because of the interrupted circulation. However, after the team corrected the torsion and applied warm saline, its colour returned to normal, indicating recovery of blood supply. Dr Bhise explained that every hour matters in testicular torsion because prolonged interruption of circulation can lead to irreversible tissue damage. In this patient, the prompt intervention restored blood flow and enabled the team to preserve the testicle instead of removing it.
Bilateral Orchidopexy Helps Prevent Recurrence
The definitive treatment for testicular torsion involves emergency surgery to untwist the spermatic cord and assess whether the affected testicle can recover. Surgeons may also perform bilateral orchidopexy, a procedure that secures both testicles with stitches to reduce the risk of future torsion. If the blood supply has been interrupted for too long and the testicular tissue is no longer viable, doctors may need to remove the affected testicle through a procedure called an orchiectomy. In this case, the surgery lasted approximately 20 minutes and proceeded without complications. The patient was discharged after one day, and a follow-up scrotal Doppler examination showed normal blood supply to the testicle. Dr Bhise said that the patient’s outcome highlights the importance of rapid diagnosis and immediate surgical treatment when testicular torsion is suspected.
Recognising Testicular Torsion Can Save the Testicle
Testicular torsion is a time-critical surgical emergency that can affect adolescents and young men, sometimes without warning. Recognising the symptoms and seeking immediate medical attention can improve the chances of preserving the testicle. As per the press release, sudden, severe testicular pain should never be ignored. Prompt evaluation and emergency surgery, when required, offer the best chance of restoring blood flow and preventing permanent damage.