Shenzhen teen’s testicle saved after emergency torsion surgery
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A 15-year-old junior secondary school student in Shenzhen was diagnosed with testicular torsion after waking in the night with severe lower abdominal pain, which his mother initially mistook for an upset stomach or fatigue after playing basketball. After enduring the pain for about three hours, he developed a swollen, shiny scrotum on one side and was taken to the emergency department. Doctors at Longgang District People’s Hospital in Shenzhen confirmed the torsion and performed emergency surgery within the so-called golden six-hour window, successfully restoring the testicle before irreversible tissue death set in.
Key Points
- The patient, a 15-year-old boy identified by the pseudonym Xiao Hang, was awakened from sleep by cramping lower abdominal pain and broke out in a cold sweat.
- His mother first thought he had eaten something bad or was overtired from basketball, and only gave him hot water before telling him to rest.
- By dawn, he could not straighten his back, and one side of his scrotum had become swollen, shiny and extremely painful to touch.
- Doctors said testicular torsion happens when the spermatic cord twists like a knotted tube, cutting off blood flow to the testicle.
- Medical staff said repositioning within four to six hours can save most cases, while delays beyond six hours may cause irreversible loss of sperm-producing function.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong families, the case is a reminder that sudden lower abdominal pain in adolescent boys may not be a stomach problem and can require immediate emergency assessment. The reports also underline that home measures such as hot compresses or painkillers may delay treatment when the chance of saving the testicle depends on acting within hours.