Frequency of testicular atrophy following incarcerated hernia.

From 1977 to 1981, 40 infants and children were operated for incarcerated inguinal hernia, 35 boys and 5 girls. During this time, 903 hernias were cured. Follow-up examination has been possible with 32 boys, from 6 months to 5 years after surgery. Three have an irreversible lesion of the testis (2 atrophies, 1 orchiectomy), 4 a decrease of testicular volume, 1 has a bilateral retentio testis, 1 has a cryptorchidism on the non-operated contralateral side and 23 are normal. Risk factors of testicular lesions were studied with regard to age, duration of symptoms, reducIbility of hernia and to other clinical findings, and the follow-ups are evaluated with regard to macroscopic operative appearance of testicles. The group of infants less than 1 month of age with symptoms for more than 24 hours and with ileus is the highest risk group for testicular infarction at the time of incarceration of hernia.