Epidemiology of testicular torsion in adults: A study on hospital discharges in Chile during the period 2021-2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52611/confluencia.2026.1923Keywords:
Spermatic cord torsion, Epidemiology, Chile, AdultAbstract
Introduction: Testicular torsion is a time-dependent urological emergency in which timely diagnosis and treatment are essential to preserve testicular viability. In Chile, information regarding its epidemiology in adults is limited. Objective: To describe the hospital discharge rate for testicular torsion among adults in Chile during 2021-2024 according to year, age group, and region, and to characterise the average length of hospital stay. Methodology: A quantitative, observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study based on records from the Department of Health Statistics and Information. hospital discharge rate per 100,000 inhabitants and average length of hospital stay were calculated. Result: A total of 280 hospital discharges were recorded, with a mean hospital discharge rate of 1,90 per 100.000 inhabitants and an increasing trend over the study period. The 20-29-year age group had the highest hospital discharge rate (7,07 per 100.000), with a progressive decrease with increasing age. Average length of hospital stay reached 6,67 days among adults aged 80 years and older. Antofagasta had the highest hospital discharge rate (5,18 per 100.000), whereas the Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins Region had the lowest (1,11 per 100.000). Discussion: Differences were observed according to age and region. The temporal trend should be interpreted considering the healthcare context following the COVID-19 pandemic, without establishing causal relationships. Conclusion: Testicular torsion in adults showed variations according to age, study period, and region, with a higher hospital discharge rate among young adults. These findings provide national epidemiological data and reinforce the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment.
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