Long-term follow-up after epididymectomy for chronic epididymal pain.

OBJECTIVES: Epididymectomy is an option for the relief of epididymal pain related to postoperative obstruction, epididymal cysts, or epididymitis. We performed 66 epididymectomies on 52 patients from 1996 to 2006 at our institution for localized epididymal pain. We evaluated the long-term symptomatic relief after epididymectomy.

METHODS: All 52 epididymectomy patients were mailed questionnaires regarding their current pain level and satisfaction. Patients who did not return the questionnaires were interviewed by telephone for follow-up.

RESULTS: Of the 52 patients, 34 returned 44 completed questionnaires (the patients with bilateral procedures were mailed a questionnaire for each side). The average age at epididymectomy was 44.2 years (range 25.0 to 67.9). The average follow-up was 45.8 months (range 4.2 to 119.3). Of the 34 procedures, 17 were left sided, 7 right sided, and 10 were bilateral; 25 had been performed for postvasectomy pain and 5 for obstruction related to hernia repair. Of the 44 cases, 31 (70%) reported no pain. Of the 13 still with pain, 8 (62%) reported less pain. Also, 90% were very satisfied or satisfied with their choice to undergo epididymectomy.

CONCLUSIONS: We found excellent results after epididymectomy, especially for the indication of postvasectomy pain.