Testicular function after torsion.

A group of 20 patients with torsion was investigated. The study indicated that immediate surgical intervention with a period of torsion of the testis of less than 6 h will prevent impairment of testicle function. The histology of testicular biopsies taken from such patients revealed only interstitial oedema and, at the most, partial necrosis. If torsion time exceeded 6 h testicular histology revealed severe alterations, and surgical correction could not prevent atrophy of the testis. Patients with pathological spermiograms showed FSH values over or at the upper limit of the normal range. As far as can be concluded from one single basal hormone determination, the testosterone secretion remained unaltered. Libido, potency and virilization remained normal.