Pediatr Res. 2025 Sep 29. doi: 10.1038/s41390-025-04463-6. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Testicular torsion is an emergency that can require orchiectomy if too much time passes between ischemia onset and surgery.
METHODS: This prospective, survey-based study demonstrates that there is poor understanding about torsion among boys, parents, and school nurses, and that a short, animated video could improve this knowledge gap and motivate early presentation to the hospital. After completing a survey about managing acute testicular pain, participants viewed a video ( https://youtu.be/d9GAt7et85Y ) and answered follow-up questions.
RESULTS: 670 parents, 376 school nurses, 43 boys, and 47 pediatricians completed the study. 45% of parents have never heard of torsion. Over half of the boys report they would wait before telling a parent about testicular pain. Less than half of school nurses say they would recommend a child’s parents take him to the emergency department.
CONCLUSIONS: Viewing an educational video improves awareness among boys, parents and school nurses that acute testicular pain needs to be evaluated and treated emergently.
IMPACT: Testicular torsion is the most common urologic emergency in children, but most boys and their caregivers are unaware of the diagnosis. This leads to delays in care and higher rates of testicular loss. Many hospital initiatives have sought to decrease delays for boys with testicular torsion after they interact with the healthcare system, however, most time delay occurs prior to arrival at the hospital. This is the first study to demonstrate that patient and parent education can be more effective in taking efficient care of boys with acute testicular torsion.
PMID:41023187 | DOI:10.1038/s41390-025-04463-6
