Blunt trauma to scrotum in men with spinal cord injury after they had completed rehabilitation in a spinal unit

Abstract

Study design: A report of three men with spinal cord injury (SCI) who sustained blunt trauma to scrotum after they had completed rehabilitation in the spinal unit. Objectives: To raise awareness amongst health professionals regarding: • mechanism of scrotal trauma in men with SCI • need for prompt assessment of scrotal injury • measures to be taken by men with SCI and their carers to prevent injury to the scrotum. Setting: Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, Southport, England. Case reports: • A 31-year-old with C-6 tetraplegia sustained traumatic haematocele as he squashed his right testis while he jumped on to a toilet seat in a hurry for bowel movement. • A 28-year-old male with T-7 paraplegia sat on his left testis while transferring on to a car seat. • A boxer dog jumped on to the scrotum of a 40-year-old male with T-8 paraplegia, while he was lying on his bed. Conclusions: Men with SCI are at high risk of sustaining trauma to scrotum during transfers. The scrotum may be squashed by the weight of the body during transfers, or the scrotum may be trapped between the thighs or under the torso. Men with SCI or their carers should check after each transfer that the scrotum is not trapped between the thighs or under the torso. The health professionals should encourage men with SCI to update their transfer skills at regular intervals in order to prevent trauma to the scrotum during transfers. Blunt trauma to scrotum requires prompt evaluation by ultrasonography so that appropriate treatment can be instituted without delay.