[Acute scrotum in childhood: considerations on 457 cases]

The Authors present their experience about 457 consecutive cases of acute scrotum, occurring from 1980 to 1990, at their Pediatric Surgery Unit. The condition is caused by torsion of the appendage of the testis (78.1%), torsion of the funicle (9.6%), acute idiopathic oedema of the scrotum (2.87%), and also tumours (1.17%). Also in their experience, the surgical approach is the correct treatment for the acute scrotum in order to prevent the irreversible damage of the testis. The surgical treatment present no problem and all the post-operatives were uneventful. In children under 2 years, the interventions were performed by inguinal incision, above 2 years by scrotal incision. The contralateral orchiopexy, in case of torsion of the funicle, was performed in the same session, or performed later, because of the anesthetic consideration.