Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Torsion of the spermatic cord in a horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1981
- Authors:
- Pascoe, J R et al.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 2 and a half-year-old Quarter Horse colt was found to have a complete twist of the left spermatic cord, which caused him to feel abdominal pain. He showed signs of discomfort, with a slightly faster heart rate and breathing, and the left side of his scrotum was swollen and moist. The left testicle was larger than normal, hard, and pulled slightly into the abdomen, and he reacted negatively when the vet examined it. During a rectal exam, the vet found that the area around the left testicle was swollen and painful. The issue was fixed through surgery, which involved removing the affected testicle, and it was noted that some unusual anatomical features may have made the colt more likely to experience this problem.
Abstract
A 360-degree torsion of the left spermatic cord was diagnosed in a 2 1/2-year-old Quarter Horse colt. Clinical signs included abdominal discomfort, with slight elevations in heart and respiratory rates. The scrotum on the left side was moist and edematous. The left testicle was enlarged, firm, and retracted slightly toward the abdominal cavity. The colt resented palpation of the testicle. On rectal palpation, the left vaginal ring and the structures passing through the ring were edematous and painful to pressure. Surgical correction was achieved by emasculation. The tail of the epididymis and an elongated portion of the body of the epididymis were attached to the left testicle by an unduly long mesorchium. The caudal ligament of the epididymis and the proper ligament of the testis were elongated. These anatomic variations may have predisposed to torsion of the spermatic cord.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7228779/