The incidence rate and characteristics in patients with testicular torsion: a nationwide, population-based study.

AIM: To determine the incidence rate and characteristics in patients with testicular torsion in Taiwan using a nationwide insurance database.

METHODS: This study utilizes a subset of national health insurance research database, which contains the data of all paid medical benefit claims over the period 1997-2010 for in 1 000 000 beneficiaries in 2005. We analysed claims data for all male subjects younger than 25 years with the diagnosis of testicular torsion.

RESULTS: A total of 86 subjects younger than 25 years with the diagnosis of testicular torsion were included. Among them, 22 (25.6%) underwent orchiectomies and 64 (74.4%) underwent orchiopexies. The estimated incidence of testicular torsion was 3.5 per 100 000 person-years. There are two peaks in the age-specific incidence rates: the first in boys aged 10-14 years (at 7.7 per 100 000 person-years) and the second in male infants aged <1 year (at 7.6 per 100 000 person-years). There was significant difference between orchiectomy and orchiopexy groups in the Insurance fee (p = 0.032).

CONCLUSION: The incidence of testicular torsion in Taiwan was similar with previous report in the United States. It is important to improve the medical access to achieve better outcomes of testicular torsion.