Testicular torsion disparities in the pediatric population

There are disparate findings in the literature on the impact of race and insurance status on gonadal loss in testicular torsion. We sought to determine if race or levels of social vulnerability influence the rate of torsion or gonadal loss.

Retrospective cross-sectional review between December 2017 and September 2019. Social vulnerability index was dichotomized using the 75th percentile. Primary outcome was the diagnosis of testicular torsion.

515 patients were included. There was no difference in median age, torsion diagnosis, and orchiectomy rate between the two institutions. Black/African American patients were >3 times more likely than Caucasian patients to be diagnosed with TT when controlled for dichotomized SVI, insurance, and age (OR 3.39, 95% CI 1.74 - 6.61, p < 0.01).

Black/African American children have an increased risk of testicular torsion. Despite these patients having higher levels of social vulnerability, it was not associated.