What Is Testicular Torsion? ... Testicular torsion is an emergency condition. It happens when the spermatic cord, which provides blood flow to the testicle, rotates ...[SkiptoContent]SharetoFacebookSharetoTwitterSharetoPinterestShareviaEmailKidsHealth/forTeens/TesticularTorsionTesticularTorsionReviewedby:T.ErnestoFigueroa,MDLargertextsizeLargetextsizeRegulartextsizePrintenespañolTorsióntesticularWhatIsTesticularTorsion?Testiculartorsion isanemergencycondition.Ithappenswhenthespermaticcord,whichprovidesbloodflowtothetesticle,rotatesandbecomestwisted.Thetwistingcutsoffthetesticle'sbloodsupplyandcausessuddenpainandswelling.Testiculartorsion(alsocalledtestistorsion)requiresimmediatesurgerytosavethetesticle.Iftesticulartorsiongoesonformorethanafewhours,itcanpermanentlydamagethetesticle,andadamagedtesticlemustberemoved.Theamountoftwistingcanbeanywherefrom180-720degrees.Thedegreeoftwistingaffectshowquicklyatesticlegetsdamaged.Asageneralrule,withinabout4to6hours,thetesticlecanbesaved90%ofthetime.After12hours,thisdropsto50%;after24hours,thetesticlecanbesavedonly10%ofthetime.WhatCausesTesticularTorsion?Thescrotumisthesackofskinbeneaththepenis.Insidethescrotumaretwotestes(pluraloftestis),alsocalledtesticles.Eachtesticleisconnectedtotherestofthebodybyabloodvesselcalledthespermaticcord.Testiculartorsionhappenswhenaspermaticcordbecomestwisted,cuttingofftheflowofbloodtotheattachedtesticle.Mostcasesoftesticulartorsionaffectguyswhohaveaconditioncalledabellclapperdeformity.Inmostmales,thetesticlesareattachedtothescrotum,makingithardforthemtotwist.Inmaleswhohavethebellclapperdeformity,thetesticlesareunsecuredandcanmoveandtwistinthescrotum.Testiculartorsioncanhappentoboysandmenofanyage,butismostcommonin12-to18-year-olds.Itcanhappenafterstrenuousexercise,whilesomeoneissleeping,orafteraninjurytothescrotum.Alotoftimes,though,thereisnoapparentcause.WhatAretheSymptomsofTesticularTorsion?Ifyouhaveatesticulartorsion,chancesareyou'llknowit.You'llfeelasudden,possiblyseverepaininyourscrotumandon