MICROSURGICAL DENERVATION OF THE SPERMATIC CORD AS PRIMARY SURGICAL TREATMENT OF CHRONIC ORCHIALGIA

LEVINE, LAURENCE A.
MATKOV, THOMAS G.

From the Department of Urology, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois

†Financial interest and/or other relationship with American Medical Systems, Pfizer and TAP Pharmaceuticals.

‡Financial interest and/or other relationship with Amgen.

Accepted for publication December 8, 2000.

^* Requests for reprints: *Department of Urology, 1725 West Harrison St., Suite 920, Chicago, Illinois 60612.

Journal of Urology 165(6):p 1927-1929, June 2001.

Purpose

We evaluate the effectiveness of microsurgical denervation of the spermatic cord for treatment of chronic orchialgia.

Materials and Methods

Patients referred to our clinic diagnosed with chronic orchialgia are evaluated with a thorough medical and psychiatric history, physical examination and scrotal ultrasound when indicated. A total of 27 patients with chronic orchialgia refractory to nonsurgical management who had temporary pain relief after undergoing outpatient cord block were candidates for denervation. There were 6 patients who had bilateral pain, therefore, 33 testicular units were denervated. Followup ranged from 1 to 74 months (mean 20).

Results

Complete pain relief was noted in 25 (76%) testicular units, partial relief in 3 (9.1%) and no relief in the remaining 5 (15%), with a mean followup of 19, 24 and 10 months, respectively. There was no significant difference in outcome when evaluated by the etiology of orchialgia.

Conclusions

When conservative treatment fails, microsurgical denervation of the spermatic cord should be considered first rate surgical therapy for patients with chronic orchialgia.