A 15-year-old junior three student in Shenzhen was unexpectedly woken by severe lower abdominal pain at night. Initially mistaken for gastroenteritis, the delay nearly missed the “golden six-hour” window for treatment, but thanks to immediate surgery, his testicle was saved.
Case Overview
Boy Xiao HANG (a pseudonym) suddenly felt intense abdominal pain at night. His mother initially believed it was caused by overexertion from playing basketball the day before or eating poorly, and comforted him with hot water. By the morning, the symptoms had worsened, and he was rushed to the hospital. Upon examination, he was diagnosed with 'testicular torsion,' which had already been delayed by three hours.
Medical Explanations
'Testicular torsion' refers to an abnormal twisting of the spermatic cord that cuts off blood supply to the testicle, similar to a water pipe being forcibly twisted and crimped. The testicle is extremely sensitive to reduced blood flow, and the 'golden six-hour' window for treatment, if promptly reversed, has a salvage rate of 80% to 90%. If delayed for more than six hours, spermatogenesis will be irreversibly lost; if more than 12 to 24 hours, the testicle will be necrotic and must be removed.
Experts advise that if a boy experiences sudden unilateral scrotal swelling and pain, lower abdominal pain with vomiting, or walking with a limp, an emergency ultrasound examination at the emergency department or urology outpatient clinic must be sought immediately, without delay for home heat therapy or pain-relieving medication.