Twisting. The term is applied to the process in which organs, or tumours, which are attached to the rest of the body by a narrow neck or pedicle, become twisted so as to narrow the blood vessels or other structures in the pedicle. (See TESTICLE, DISEASES OF.)
Torsion is also the term applied to the twisting of the small arteries severed at an operation, by which bleeding from them is stopped.... torsion
Twisting of the spermatic cord that causes severe pain and swelling of the testis. The pain develops rapidly and is sometimes accompanied by abdominal pain and nausea. The testis becomes swollen and very tender, and the skin of the scrotum becomes discoloured. Unless the torsion is treated within a few hours, permanent damage to the testis results. The condition is most common around puberty. It is more likely to occur if the testis is unusually mobile within the scrotum.
Diagnosis is by physical examination.
Surgery is performed to untwist the testis and anchor it in the scrotum with small stitches to prevent recurrence.
If irreversible damage has occurred, orchidectomy is performed.
In either case, the other testis is anchored to the scrotum to prevent torsion on that side.
With prompt treatment, recovery of the testis is complete.... testis, torsion of
a normal variation in posture in which there is an *in-toe gait due to mild internal rotation of the tibia. The condition is often apparent in infancy when the child starts walking and resolves spontaneously with time. Usually symmetrical, it is associated with normal mobility and is pain-free.... tibial torsion
a very dangerous form of *ventricular tachycardia characterized by a sinusoidal (twisting) pattern on the electrocardiogram due to a constantly shifting cardiac electrical vector (hence the French term, meaning ‘twisting of points’). It is usually a side-effect of medication but may also occur in patients with severe deficiency of potassium or magnesium or inherited abnormalities of the cardiac electrical system. See long QT syndrome.... torsades de pointes
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