[Acute scrotum in children].

AIMS: To evaluate the frequency, to identify the aetiologies of the acute scrotum and to describe their treatment in children.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fifty seven children treated for acute scrotum in the paediatric surgery department of the Tokoin teaching hospital (Lomé) between January 2003 to December 2007 were studied.

RESULTS

The frequency of acute scrotum was 5.80%. The average age was of 4.75 years (range: 7 days to 15 years). The aetiologies were: incarcerated inguino scrotal hernia (49.12%); spermatic cord torsion (29.83%); epididymo-orchitis (17.54%) and testicular trauma (3.51%). The delay of treatment was superior of 72 hours in 49.12%. The pain and the increase of the volume of the scrotum were present in all the patients. The emergency operation was performed in the spermatic cord torsion and the testicular trauma. The medical treatment was performed in the epididymo-orchitis cases. The patients presenting an incarcerated inguino-scrotal hernia benefited from a surgical cure in a delay of eight days after the acute episode. The operative continuations were in any cases simple.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis and the treatment must be precocious in the acute scrotum in order to avoid possible complications.