title: Pediatric chronic orchalgia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic orchalgia, defined as testicular pain lasting > 3 months and interfering with normal activities, is neglected in the pediatric literature. We describe our experience with the evaluation and treatment of pediatric chronic orchalgia patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Charts were screened to identify patients meeting the criteria for chronic orchalgia. Charts were further reviewed to record the history and physical exam, diagnostic tests, treatment and outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  65/982 patients met the criteria for chronic orchalgia. Mean age was 13 and mean duration of pain was 8.6 months. Physical exam findings were normal in 46 patients (70%). 59 patients were managed conservatively with resolution (10/59, 17%) or a single visit (36/59, 61%) in 78%. 13/59 (22%) patients showed either minor improvement or no change in symptoms. 5 non-responding patients were managed by the anesthesia pain service; 4 received epidurals with or without additional oral pain medications with 3 experiencing significant pain improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conservative management of chronic orchalgia allowed symptoms to subside in the majority of cases. We recommend patients be treated with conservative measures for 1-2 months. If this fails, early involvement of the anesthesia pain service can offer treatment modalities such as epidural analgesia. Surgical management in the face of a normal physical exam does not seem to have a role.
authors: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, 5445 Meridian Mark Road, Suite 420, Atlanta, GA 30342, USA. jonkalisvaart@gmail.com
authors: Jonathan F
authors: JF
authors: Kalisvaart
authors: Bruce
authors: B
authors: Broecker
authors: Wolfgang H
authors: WH
authors: Cerwinka
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Cuda
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Elmore
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Kaye
authors: Andrew J
authors: AJ
authors: Kirsch
authors: Hal C
authors: HC
authors: Scherz
authors: Claudia Y
authors: CY
authors: Venable
authors: Edwin A
authors: EA
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics