First aid and treatment for scrotal injury

Scrotal injury - a common phenomenon. According to statistics, it is the scrotum injuries that are the first among all the damages of the genitourinary system of men, especially of middle age.

Scrotal Injury usually manifests as pain, swelling and inflammation

Causes of injuries

The causes of scrotal injury are different. It all depends on the type of damage received. Most often it is:

• DTP;
• fights, knife, gunshot wounds, etc.;
• animal bites;
• mechanical damage in production;
• damage due to excessive physical exertion;
• thermal exposure( frostbite, burn);
• chemical exposure( at home or at work).

In addition, shaking or vibration may result in injuries to the scrotal organs.

Classification of scrotal injuries

All injuries are divided into open and closed:

1. With open lesions, while the scrotum is injured, the skin is damaged.
2. A closed form of injury is characterized by damage to the scrotum, provided that the skin remains in a normal state.

All closed injuries can be conditionally divided into:

• bruises, which are accompanied by hemorrhages, hematomas;
• crushing and tearing testicles, which in most cases require surgery due to the severity of the injury.

With the formation of hematomas, an increase in the size of the scrotum occurs and pain is noted when it is palpated. There are cases when it is possible to remove the hematoma only operatively by opening the blood accumulation and its drainage. Contusions of the testicle are very painful and require compliance with bed rest.

To open scrotum injuries include damage to the skin, such as incisions, burns, tears. They are divided into:

• penetrating wounds of the scrotum without traumatizing the testicles;
• penetrating wounds with damage, up to the crushing of the testicles.

Any open injury requires immediate medical attention and full treatment. Especially difficult are the damage to the scrotum with trauma to the testicles and appendages. Usually, with such injuries, the functions of these organs are disrupted. This can already be the cause of infertility.

Doctors-urologists also necessarily control the bitten injuries of the scrotum organs, under which mandatory vaccination is performed in case of injury to animals. If the wound is superficial, then it is possible to manage with medication.

There is also a chronic scrotal injury, when as a result of frequent bruises, squeezing of the genital organ or overheating, the hormonal function of the testicles is disrupted. As a result, the development of spermatozoa( azoospermia, oligospermia, etc.) is disrupted.

Closed injuries resulting from exposure to radiation, chemical or electrical stimuli are relatively rare.

Symptoms of

A person injured by the scrotum can determine the type of injury by the appropriate symptoms. Signs of closed injuries are, first of all, sudden pain, the appearance of bruises, painful shock. Bumps and bruises of the scrotum can cause a strong hemorrhage, which affects its color: it changes to purple-blue and is accompanied by a feeling of strain of the organ and the impossibility of palpation of the testicles.

Open trauma is accompanied by external and internal bleeding, pain shock. Possible loss of consciousness, pallor of the skin, weak pulse, hypotension and increased sweating. The size of the scrotum greatly increases, which can lead to the prolapse of the testicle.

Diagnosis of

An injured patient should seek help from specialists such as urologist, andrologist, surgeon and traumatologist .Even with a small damage to the scrotum, do not neglect the visit to the doctor. After all, timely assistance contributes to the preservation of health and reproductive function.

A doctor examines a patient by performing a palpation of the affected area and collecting an anamnesis. After setting a preliminary diagnosis, the patient is assigned scrotal ultrasound, which will show the degree of danger of injury, will assess the blood flow of the testicles. MRI is used to obtain a more accurate picture of the condition of the injured organ. The method of diaphanoscopy is used, if necessary, to distinguish hydro-ocele( edema) and hematoma.

A special ice pack can be replaced with a conventional cellophane bag: fill the ice, tie it and wrap it with a towel.

. First aid for scrotal injury.

. Any trauma manifests itself in the form of pain, swelling and inflammation. First aid will help to reduce their manifestation. To do this, you need to do the following:

• Apply a cold compress wound around the injury site to prevent frostbite. Cold narrows the vessels and reduces the inflammatory process;
• Take an analgesic( paracetamol, nurofen, ketoprofen);
• Try to take a horizontal position and rest;
• Wear pull-up underwear.

When should I see a doctor immediately?

In some cases, visit a doctor or call an ambulance you need as soon as possible. This is necessary if:

• the dimensions of the scrotum become noticeably larger;
• the skin is rusted;
• has a bleeding;
• if after taking an anesthetic, the pain does not decrease.

Methods of treatment

For the treatment of a patient, the physician resorts to the use of conservative methods or surgical intervention. If the injury is uncomplicated, then medication is prescribed, based on taking painkillers, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs.

Immediately after receiving the injury, the doctor puts a pressure bandage on the scrotum to immobilize the affected area. After about 4 days, a complex of physiotherapy procedures is prescribed: paraffinotherapy, solux, UHF.It promotes resorption of hematomas.

When a testicle is dislocated, it is possible to twist it, which makes it necessary to return it to the correct position by detorcing( unwinding)

. When a testicle is dislocated, it will be necessary to make its reposition: operative or manual( manually).In case of detection of extensive hematomas, drainage is mandatory. In the process of open revision, removal of nonviable scrotum tissues, resection of the testicle and suturing of lesions occurs.

Treatment of open trauma to the scrotum involves the initial treatment of the injured area. Then the testicle is opened, the hematoma is removed and bleeding stops. The necessary procedures are a revision of the testicle, appendages and spermatic cord. In the future, everything will depend on the type of injury. If necessary, the testicle will be removed. There are cases when the scrotum detaches, but the testes remain hanging on the spermatic cord. In such cases, the so-called "pockets" are formed on the inner side of the thigh. They then put the testicles. The new scrotum is formed from the skin. And in a few weeks you can return the testicles back to their places.

In case of traumatic amputation of the testicle, it can be replaced by artificial or transplantation. With open trauma to the scrotum, tetanus antitetanus and rabies vaccine should be introduced in case of a bitten trauma.

Possible consequences of scrotal injury

The most common consequences of scrotal injuries are:

• pain in the testicles, which can lead to fainting;
• tearing or rupture of the urethra;
• concussion and testicular rupture;
• impotence and infertility;
• disability;
• possible death.

The prognosis for recovery may be unfavorable if the trauma is severe and medical assistance will not be provided on time. If the doctor turned out to be a highly qualified specialist and did everything right, the forecast will be quite favorable.

See also: Why and how to perform a testicle massage?

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