Chronic orchalgia after surgical exploration for acute scrotal pain in children

Pediatric chronic orchalgia has a multifactorial etiology and is uncommon after scrotal exploration surgery. Comorbidities are common and must be managed. Surgical exploration helps reassure patients that there is no correctable cause for the pain and facilitates engagement with chronic pain management.Table. Chronic orchalgia after scrotal exploration in a large cohort: rate and associated comorbidities.Initial scrotal exploration n = 1084Undergoing re-exploration n = 44Chronic orchalgia n = 15 (1.4%)PathologyNumber (%)PathologyNumber (%)Comorbidities notedAppendage torsion772 (71.2)Appendage torsion13 (29.6)AnxietyDepressionSomatizationJoint painBack painChronic pain syndromeConstipationLower urinary tract dysfunctionVaricoceleReactive hydroceleIntermittent testicular torsionTesticular torsion115 (10.6)Testicular torsion2 (4.5)Suspected torsion/detorsion108 (10.0)Suspected torsion/detorsion17 (38.6)Epididymo-orchitis52 (4.8)Epididymo-orchitis4 (9.1)No cause identified26 (2.4)No cause identified4 (9.1)Other11 (1.0)Other5 (11.4)Complications61 (5.6)Complications3 (6.8)