Microsurgical subinguinal cremaster muscle release for chronic orchialgia secondary to hyperactive cremaster muscle reflex in adults

Abstract

A careful history and evaluation of men with chronic orchialgia elucidates the aetiology in some men to be a hyperactive cremaster muscle reflex with testicular retraction as the cause. The objective is to evaluate outcomes in men who underwent microsurgical subinguinal cremaster muscle release (MSCMR) with a retrospective chart review between September 2011 and April 2019. Nineteen men with hyperactive cremaster muscle reflex in 25 spermatic cord units underwent MSCMR, six bilateral and thirteen unilateral. Candidacy for MSCMR included answering yes to the question: “at times of testicular pain, does the testicle retract up in the groin to the extent that you have to milk it back down to the scrotum?”, normal digital rectal examinations, negative urinalyses, negative scrotal Doppler ultrasounds, vigorous retraction of testis with Valsalva on examination and pain without an anatomic or pathologically identifiable aetiology except testicular retraction. Of the men who underwent MSCMR, 100% (25/25) of spermatic cord units had resolution of testicular retraction and 92% (23/25) of spermatic cord units had complete resolution of orchialgia. There was one complication, a small scrotal hematoma which resolved. MSCMR is an effective option for men with orchialgia secondary to testicular retraction due to a hyperactive cremaster muscle reflex.