Seasonal preponderance in testicular torsion: is it a myth?

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to investigate the relation of testicular torsion and weather conditions, and to report results from Turkey, a country located between temperate and sub-tropical climate zones.

METHODS: A total of 56 patients that had surgery with the diagnosis of testicular torsion in Ankara Education and Research Hospital Urology Clinic between 2005 and 2014 were included in the study. Age of the patient, side of torsion, date and time at onset of pain, scrotal exploration time, ischemia duration, degree of cord torsion, the surgical procedure performed, and scrotal Doppler ultrasound (USG) findings at the time of diagnosis and 1 month after surgery were retrospectively analyzed. The web archives of Turkish Republic Meteorology General Directorate was used to determine the seasonal and mean temperatures at the time of diagnosis. The data were analyzed with SPSS v. 16 statistical package program using Chi-square, Mann- Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests.

RESULTS: The mean age of 56 males included in the study was 18.88 ± 0.73 years. Right testicular torsion was seen in 23, and left testicular torsion was seen in 33 patients. Testicular arterial flow was absent in 37, arterial flow was moderately decreased in 12, and significantly decreased in 7 patients on Doppler USG. Detorsion procedure was performed in 46 patients while 10 patients had orchiectomy. Nine patients were admitted in summer, 14 in fall, 15 in winter, and 18 in spring. The mean air temperature at the time of admittance was 9.31 ± 1.05 °C. The prevalence of testicular torsion was not found different among the seasons (p=0.39). The analysis of air temperature at the time of admittance of the patients revealed that it was below 15 °C in 40 patients while it was above 15 °C in 16 patients, with a significant difference in between (p=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of testicular torsion did not change in relation with the seasons. However, it was determined that its prevalence was directly proportional to the air temperature, and increased particularly below 15 °C.