Testicular torsion medical negligence claims

Testicular torsion requires immediate investigation and swift action. Spotting the signs early can be the difference between a full recovery or a permanent injury.

Thomson Snell & Passmore’s clinical negligence team are experts in dealing with cases involving testicular torsion, having acted for patients across the country in achieving compensation when treatment has fallen below an acceptable standard.

What is testicular torsion?

Testicular torsion occurs when a teste (testicle) rotates, twisting the spermatic cord that brings blood to the scrotum (balls). This twisting cuts off the essential blood supply to the affected teste.

Without adequate blood flow, the teste is starved of oxygen. Without oxygen, the teste can become damaged within hours as the tissue begins to die.

The twisting of the teste can be the result of physical activity, stress or impact, but mostly it arises as a result of normal cremasteric muscle contractions. In boys, this can often occur whilst they are asleep.

Recognising the warning signs of testicular torsion

Testicular torsion can happen at any age, but it overwhelmingly affects babies and teenagers.

The NHS estimates that approximately 75% of cases occur during a baby’s first year and during early adolescence and puberty (most commonly between 10 – 18 years).

Symptoms typically appear suddenly and intensely.

The key ‘red flag’ warning signs to look out for include:

• Sudden, severe pain: An intense, sharp pain in one teste that starts without warning. Sometimes, particularly in children, this pain can be mistakenly interpreted as generalised stomach pain.
• Visible changes to the teste: Swelling, warmth, and redness of one side of the scrotum. The affected teste may also sit visibly higher than the other teste or at an unusual angle.
• Nausea/ vomiting: The severity of the pain frequently triggers a systemic neural response, resulting in nausea and/ or vomiting.

How time critical is testicular torsion?

Testicular torsion is classed as a medical emergency.

Saving the teste depends entirely on how quickly it can be diagnosed and untwisted.

The NHS emphasises that the ‘magic’ number following the onset of pain is 6 hours. If treated within 6 hours, there is around a 90% survival rate for the affected teste.

This survival rate drops significantly to 10% if the teste is not untwisted until 12 hours from the onset of pain.

After 24 hours the teste will usually need to be removed (a procedure known as orchidectomy/ orchiectomy).

Removal of a teste can have potentially significant impacts, not only cosmetically but also in terms of hormone production and fertility, especially in patients who already only had one teste.

Due to social factors, fear and embarrassment, many children and adolescent patients delay reporting their symptoms to their family or healthcare providers until the damage has already progressed. The emphasis should be on ensuring that the appropriate questions are asked in order to achieve an accurate diagnosis.

What are the reasons for making a testicular torsion claim?

Several factors can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment, or misdiagnoses of testicular torsion:

• Infection: other causes of testicular pain such as epididymitis (an infection) is commonly mistaken as a diagnosis because the symptoms can overlap.
• Atypical presentation: sometimes pain presents primarily in the abdomen, misleading clinicians as to the location and seriousness of the injury.
• Unnecessary scans: whilst ultrasound scans are useful in determining whether a torsion has occurred, this can delay urgent treatment. Exploratory surgery by way of laparoscopy is recommended as the preferred diagnostic method when a torsion is suspected because it allows for immediate surgical resolution.

In some cases, a teste may twist and then untwist on its own. This causes sharp and severe pain that disappears suddenly. Even though the pain resolves, it is still important to see a doctor urgently as it indicates that the teste could be prone to twisting and this may happen again in the future.

How do I make a testicular torsion claim?

If you or a family member have been impacted by the delayed diagnosis and/ or treatment of testicular torsion then we may be able to help secure compensation.

As a first step, we offer a free initial consultation to discuss whether there is a legal claim and what funding options are available. We would then conduct an in-depth investigation into the management and treatment you received in the hospital, or GP surgery, to advise you on the strength of your case. We will take your account of what happened, and review your medical records and radiological imaging. We often also take advice from independent medical experts, which in these cases often involves urologists and experts in emergency medicine.

How long does it take to settle a testicular torsion claim?

Whilst it is impossible to predict how long it will take to achieve compensation for a testicular torsion case, as each case turns on its own unique facts and circumstances, every effort will be made to achieve a settlement and bring your case to a conclusion outside of the realm of court proceedings.

We offer no-win, no-fee agreements on the vast majority of our clinical negligence and personal injury cases and, with one of the longest established and experienced clinical negligence teams in the country, we have assisted thousands of people in obtaining compensation, including for testicular torsion.

Contact us for a free, no obligation, initial consultation.