Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for Pediatric Acute Scrotum and Testicular Torsion (NIRS)

The main goal of this prospective, non-randomized pilot study is to assess the utility of NIRS for the clinical diagnosis of the acute scrotum and testicular torsion. The sensitivity and specificity of NIRS for testicular torsion will be defined relative to surgical exploration, scrotal Doppler/B-mode ultrasound, and clinical follow-up. Last, we will assess the utility of intraoperative and postoperative NIRS for predicting testicular viability after testicular detorsion. To achieve this, standard care will be provided for all patients and at two or five time points NIRS measurements will be obtained privately so standard care is not biased by NIRS data. Outcome variables will include NIRS StO2 ( percent oxygen saturation) measurements, torsion status (yes/no), ultrasound parameters (testicular size, volume, echogenicity, presence/absence of Doppler flow, whirlpool sign, hydrocele, scrotal wall thickness), TWIST score variables, duration of pain, and duration of torsion. Study endpoints will include early withdrawal, screen failures, orchiectomy for torsion, and 1-2 week or 3 month post-surgical follow-up (see Figure 1). In this 5 year single center study, the maximum number of local subjects to be consented will be 750 subjects. No existing charts will be used in this prospective study.

Patients with acute scrotum will be evaluated by history, physical examination, and urinalysis per standard of care by staff in the ER, pediatric urology or pediatric surgery. At the surgeon's discretion, either a scrotal Doppler/B-mode ultrasound or emergent surgical exploration will be planned as the next step per standard of care. While waiting for preparation of either the scrotal Doppler/B-mode ultrasound or emergent surgical exploration, the patient and guardian will be informed and invited for study participation. If they agree to participate, they will be given a Fitzpatrick Skin Type (FST) Survey. This survey is a classification scale that was created in 1975 for predicting skin reactivity in PUVA (Psoralen plus ultraviolet A) photochemotherapy. [20] This survey asks the subject to grade his tendency to burn and ability to tan respectively within 24 hours and 7 days after the first un-protected sun-exposure in the early summer. There are four possible answers for "white"-skinned persons (skin type I, II, II, IV). Brown skin classification is skin type V and black skin classification is skin type VI. In the event that the survey has been missed, we will mail a survey to the patient/guardian with a pre-stamped and addressed return envelope. [20] Those that refuse study participation will receive standard of care treatment for the acute scrotum.

Those that accept study participation after informed consent will receive standard of care therapy for the acute scrotum and will be evaluated by NIRS. The NIRS measurements will not bias the treatments performed or not performed on the study patients, permitting standard of care treatment unbiased. The clinical data will be collected prospectively for each patient utilizing REDCap Data Collection Management and stored in the REDCap databases and the photographic database. Photographs will be taken of the scrotum. In addition, select participants will be asked if they will allow us to videotape the NIRS measurements.

At the surgeon's decision and discretion, either a scrotal Doppler/B-mode ultrasound or emergent surgical exploration will be planned as the next step per standard of care. While waiting for this to occur, the NIRS #1 measurement will be obtained. NIRS #1 is a series of 6 transcutaneous scrotal measurements, three on the left and three on the right. Each measurement is completely non-invasive, painless and takes <15 seconds each. Thus, no sedation or supplemental analgesia will be needed for NIRS. The NIRS probe will be placed on the anterior scrotum on the left and right sides, immediately overlying the testis but on the skin, to obtain the six total measurements. Thus, the unaffected testis will serve as the patient's own control. NIRS #1 will not delay the scrotal Doppler/B-mode ultrasound or emergent surgical exploration.

If the surgeon decides against surgical exploration, then standard care for the other causes of acute scrotum will be provided and the diagnosis will be no testicular torsion. The patient will be discharged home with a standard care follow-up in approximately two weeks in an outpatient urology clinic appointment. The subject will be given a NIRS Daily Diary to take home with them and record a five-day history of pain and recovery course. They will be asked to bring this back at the two week follow-up visit.

If the scrotal Doppler/B-mode ultrasound identifies testicular torsion or if the surgeon feels emergent surgical exploration is indicated, then emergent surgical exploration will be performed. Photographs of the scrotum will be obtained, as well as select patients to be consented for videotaping of the NIRS measurements At surgery under general anesthesia per standard care, NIRS #2-4 will be performed. NIRS #2-4 is a series of 18 testicular tissue measurements, nine on the affected testis and nine on the unaffected testis. Each testis will receive nine measurements, three thru the skin and six directly on the exposed testis (three prior to untwisting and three 5 minutes after untwisting). The probe will be laid on the exposed testis (intraoperative testicular tissue). Each measurement is painless and takes <15 seconds each. The NIRS probe will be placed on the anterior testis to obtain the three sets of three measurements. Thus, the unaffected testis will serve as the patient's own control. NIRS #2-4 will not delay detorsion of the affected testis. Surgeons will be blinded to these NIRS results, thus the decision during the operation will not be affected.

In addition, using a standardized color wheel we have created, the surgeon will be asked to describe the color of the testis at the time of initial exposure and at 5 minutes after detorsion.

If testicular torsion is found and the torsed testis is nonviable after detorsion, the orchiectomy with contralateral orchiopexy will be performed per surgeon's decision. The patient will be discharged home and will reach study endpoint.

If testicular torsion is found and the torsed testis is viable after detorsion, then bilateral orchiopexy will be performed. One hour after the NIRS #2-4 measurements were completed, NIRS #5 will be performed using the method described for NIRS #1 only on postsurgical patients that underwent bilateral orchiopexy for testicular salvage.

At the time of discharge home, the subject will be given a NIRS Daily Diary to take home with them and record a five-day history of pain and recovery course. They will be asked to bring this back at the two week follow-up visit.

A phone interview will take place at day 5 to assess their postoperative pain course. A telephone script will be utilized if the patients fail to follow-up with the urology clinic. We will conduct this brief telephone interview with the parents/guardians as a means of follow-up.

1-2 weeks later, non-surgical patients and surgical patients having bilateral orchiopexy will return for an outpatient urology clinic evaluation of ~1 hour duration.

1. After standard care clinical evaluation, if the diagnosis is still no testicular torsion, then the patient is discharged home and reaches study endpoint.
2. After standard care clinical evaluation, if there is a clinical concern over testicular viability (missed testicular torsion), then a repeat standard care scrotal Doppler/B-mode ultrasound will be obtained immediately and NIRS #6 will be performed using the method described for NIRS #1. The patient will be categorized as torsion or no torsion based on clinical findings and reaches study endpoint. In addition, photographs of the scrotum and possible selected videotaping will be performed.
3. As per standard of care, if testicular torsion was present and the testis underwent detorsion with orchiopexy, then NIRS #6 will be performed using the method described for NIRS #1. At 3 months post-operatively, a scrotal Doppler/B-Mode Ultrasound will be obtained to assess testicular volume and dimensions, which is standard of care follow-up after orchiopexy. The affected testis will be categorized as normal, <20% testicular volume loss, 20-50% volume loss, or >50% volume loss based on ultrasound parameters. At that ~1 hour visit, NIRS #7 will be performed using the method described for NIRS #1, photographs of the scrotum and possible selected videotaping will be performed. At that time, the patient reaches study endpoint.

If the patient does not return at either the designated 1-2 weeks or three month follow-up outpatient urology clinic evaluation, then the PI and/or research nurse coordinator will telephone the guardian to encourage return to clinic and for verbal status report on the child's clinical state.

Thus, the total number of study visits, including the presenting emergency visit, is three (Emergency, 1-2 weeks post-operatively, and 3 months post-operatively). No medications will be administered in this study. No blood or tissue will be collected and no radiation exposure or questionnaires will be given. No subjects will be responsible for any research-related costs however; they will be responsible for standard care costs. At the end of the study, standard care will be turned over to the primary care physician or pediatric urologist if needed. No sub-study procedures will be performed.