[Testicular function after spermatic cord torsion].
Semen quality and endocrine parameters after spermatic cord torsion were investigated. Of 24 patients evaluated following spermatic cord torsion 12 were treated with bilateral orchiopexy (orchiopexy group), and 12 were treated with ipsilateral orchiectomy and contralateral orchiopexy (orchiectomy group). The average sperm density and the average total sperm count in the orchiectomy group were significantly lower than those in the orchiopexy group (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, respectively). The mean serum follicle stimulating hormone level in the orchiectomy group was significantly higher than that in the orchiopexy group (p < 0.05). These findings suggest a significant decrease in testicular function in the orchiectomy group. All the patients in the orchiopexy group demonstrated a normal semen quality and endocrine parameters during followup. Four of the 8 patients in the orchiectomy group whose duration of followup was more than two years still demonstrated oligozoospermia (< 20 x 10(6)/ml, one of 4 was azoospermia). The average age at operation of these four patients with abnormal semen quality was significantly higher than that of the other 4 patients with normal semen quality (p < 0.05), whereas no significant difference in duration of torsion preceding surgical therapy was observed between these two groups. These findings suggest that subsequent semen quality is likely to remain within normal limits with early surgical treatment by bilateral orchiopexy. Ipsilateral orchiectomy in the younger generation seems to result in less damage of the contralateral testis than in the older generation.
Ichikawa
T
T
Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Chiba University.
Kitagawa
N
N
Shiseki
Y
Y
Sumiya
H
H
Shimazaki
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013737:Testis / Q000503:physiopathology*