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Testicular torsion

Last reviewed: 11 Dec 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 edema
  • scrotal erythema
  • reactive hydrocele
  • high-riding testicle
  • horizontal lie
  • absent cremasteric reflex
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • nausea and vomiting
  • abdominal pain
  • fever
Full details

Risk factors

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

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

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

Tests to consider

  • urinalysis
  • scintigraphy
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

non-neonate

neonate

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

Declarações

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

Declarações

SEK declares that he has no competing interests.

Créditos aos pareceristas

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Referências

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Principais artigos

National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death. Testicular torsion. Feb 2024 [internet publication].Texto completo

Royal College of Surgeons of England. Commissioning guide topics: ​management of paediatric torsion. Oct 2016 [internet publication].Texto completo

European Association of Urology. Paediatric urology. Apr 2024 [internet publication].Texto completo

Expert Panel on Urological Imaging, Gerena M, Allen BC, et al. ACR appropriateness criteria® acute onset of scrotal pain-without trauma, without antecedent mass: 2024 update. J Am Coll Radiol. 2024 Nov;21(11s):S364-71.Texto completo  Resumo

Artigos de referência

Uma lista completa das fontes referenciadas neste tópico está disponível para os usuários com acesso total ao BMJ Best Practice.
  • Testicular torsion images
  • Differentials

    • Testicular appendix torsion
    • Epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis
    • Hydrocele
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • Appropriateness criteria: acute onset of scrotal pain - without trauma, without antecedent mass
    • Paediatric urology
    More Guidelines
  • Patient information

    Appendicitis

    Testicular cancer

    More Patient information
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