Survey of Emergency Testicular Fixation Practices in the UK
Author Information
Author(s): Tristan Boam, R Harwood, KD Clement, V Kasivisvanathan, A Light, GS Bethell, S Hotonu, P Eastwood, F Arthur, I Marks, L Tullie, BG Rogoyski, A Spurdens, J Nabarro, L Clarke, M Kulkarni
Primary Institution: Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Hypothesis
What are the current practices for emergency scrotal exploration and testicular fixation among surgeons in the UK?
Conclusion
The majority of surgeons prefer sutured fixation for testicular torsion and sutureless methods for nontorted testes.
Supporting Evidence
- 340 responses were received from 83 institutions.
- 74% of respondents perform sutured fixation for testicular torsion.
- 69% of respondents perform sutured fixation for bell-clapper anatomy.
- 53-66% of respondents use sutureless methods for alternative diagnoses.
Takeaway
Surgeons in the UK mostly use stitches to fix twisted testicles, but if the testicle isn't twisted, they often don't use stitches at all.
Methodology
An online survey was distributed to surgeons across the UK, collecting responses on their practices regarding emergency scrotal exploration.
Potential Biases
Responses may vary based on individual surgeon preferences and experiences, which could influence the results.
Limitations
The study may not reflect true UK practice due to selection bias and potential misinterpretation of questions by respondents.
Participant Demographics
Respondents included urologists, general surgeons, and paediatric surgeons from 83 institutions.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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