Evaluation of Testicular Workup for Ischemia and Suspected Torsion score in patients presenting with acute scrotum

BACKGROUND: Testicular torsion is one of the causes of acute scrotum and it requires timely evaluation and surgical treatment. Color Doppler is considered investigation of choice, but it may delay treatment, as, many times, it may not be available for emergency situations. Barbosa et al. created Testicular Workup for Ischemia and Suspected Torsion (TWIST) score based on clinical parameters for clinical diagnosis of testicular torsion. We have evaluated this score in our population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively calculated TWIST score in patients of acute scrotum admitted to tertiary teaching institute. Patients without complete TWIST score were excluded from the study. The scoring system consisted of testicular swelling (2 points), hard testicle (2), absent cremasteric reflex (1), nausea/vomiting (1), and high-riding testis (1). Statistical analysis was done to evaluate the validity of scores. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients were included in the study, out of which 45 (38%) patients had testicular torsion. The mean age of patients was 16.6 years in testicular torsion patients and 15.2 years in other patients. Cutoff for low-risk and high-risk patients was two and five, respectively. Fifty percent, 26.2%, and 23.8% of patients were present in low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups. Negative predictive value of TWIST score for low-risk patients was 96.61% while positive predictive value for high-risk patients was 92.86%. CONCLUSIONS: TWIST score has high predictive value and can be used for clinical diagnosis of testicular torsion. It can decrease the need of color Doppler in about 50% of cases and can prevent delay in treatment.