[Correlation between atmospheric temperature and testicular torsion]

A study on correlation between testicular torsion and atmospheric temperature was made based on 39 patients observed at Tokai University Hospital. Testicular torsion did not occur in any of the 39 patients in the summer (June to August), but occurred in 14 patients in spring (March to May), in 13 patients in autumn (September to November), and in 12 patients in winter (December to February). The onset hour was between 04:00 p.m. and midnight in 20 patients (54.1%), between midnight and 08:00 a.m. in 13 patients (35.1%), and between 08:00 a.m. and 04:00 p.m. (in the daytime) in only 3 patients (10.8%). In each of 38 patients, the atmospheric temperature at the onset hour was investigated on the basis of meteorological observations made by the fire department located in the region of the patient's residence. The data indicated that testicular torsion in 29 patients (76.3%) occurred below 15 degrees C (below the average temperature in Kanagawa Prefecture). Furthermore, a correlation (Spearman's coefficient above 95%) between reduction in temperature and onset frequency was noted. Evidently these findings suggest that the incidence of testicular torsion tends to increase with reduction in temperature.