Unpredictability of capsulotomy in testicular torsion.

Testicular torsion results in irreversible histologic changes in the ipsilateral testis, which may induce alterations in contralateral testicular histology and in fertility. It was hypothesized that these ipsilateral changes could be minimized by splitting the tunica albuginea at the time of detorsion, thus decompressing the testicular "closed compartment syndrome." Unilateral spermatic cord torsion was induced in prepubertal, male Sprague Dawley rats for a period of 0, 4, 8, or 12 hours. At the time of detorsion, capsulotomy was performed on half the animals. The mature rats were killed 35 days after detorsion and the testes examined histologically. Testicular capsulotomy did not alter the significant histologic changes observed in the affected testis following spermatic cord torsion.