Shah et al reported a decision tool for recognition of testicular torsion in a young male with acute scrotum. The authors are from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Patient selection: male, newborn to 21 years of age, acute scrotal pain (< 72 hours)
Analysis: recursive partitioning; CART
Parameters:
(1) testicular lie (normal is vertical; abnormal is horizontal or inguinal)
(2) age
(3) nausea or vomiting
Testicular Lie
Age in Years
Nausea or Vomiting
Percent Torsion
abnormal
NA
NA
34% (16 of 47)
normal
11-21
NA
5% (4 of 75)
normal
< 11
no
0
normal
< 11
yes
10% (1 of 10)
Other risk factors from univariate analysis:
(1) absent cremasteric reflex
(2) scrotal edema
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