Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Groin and scrotal swellings in children aged 5 years and below: a review of 535 cases

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Pediatric Surgery International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

There is limited literature dedicated to the surgical problems of infants and childhood, especially diseases of the groin and scrotum, in the setting of sub-Saharan Africa. We do not know the morbidity and mortality rates associated with surgical conditions of the groin and scrotum in children of our sub-region. This study was carried out among children aged 5 years and below in a regional referral hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, to determine the surgical conditions of the groin and scrotum treated at elective surgery. Inguinal hernias constituted 74% of the children with groin and scrotal diseases; this was followed by hydroceles – 14.2%; then undescended testis – 10.5%; and inguinal lymphadenopathy – 0.7%. The rest were testicular abscess, seminoma and cystic lymphangioma, representing 0.2% each of groin and scrotal conditions treated in this hospital among this age group. The last three are rare conditions of the groin and scrotum as shown by our data. The recurrence rate after herniotomy was 0.7%. Orchidopexy was successfully performed in 89% of children with undescended testes; in 7.1% of cases, orchidectomy was carried out for rudimentary and small, dysplastic testes. Over 98% of the children with groin and scrotal surgical problems were treated on day-care basis. There were no recorded deaths in the series.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bickler SW, Sanno-Duanda B (2000) Epidemiology of pediatric surgical admissions to a government referral hospital in the Gambia. Bull World Health Organ 78:1330–1336

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Milay SM, Sayi EN (1994) Undescended testis in pediatric patients at Muhimbili Medical Centre, Dar es Salaam. East Afr Med J 71:135–137

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Grosfeld JL (1989) Current concepts in inguinal hernia in infants and children. World J Surg 13:506–515

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Wilson-Storey D (1987) Scrotal swellings in the under 5s. Arch Dis Child 62:50–52

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Okunribido O, Ladipo JK, Ajao OG (1992) Inguinal hernia in pediatric age group: Ibadan experience. East Afr Med J 69:347–348

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ameh EA, Chirdan LB (2001) Pediatric surgery in the rural setting: prospect and feasibility. West Afr J Med 20:52–55

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Davenport M (1996) ABC of general pediatric surgery: inguinal hernia, hydrocele and the undescended testis. Br Med J 312:564–567

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Nwako FA (1980) A textbook of pediatric surgery in the tropics. Macmillan, London Johannesburg Hong Kong

  9. Cox J (1985) Inguinal hernia of childhood. Surg Clin North Am 65:1331–1342

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Jona J (1996) The incidence of positive contralateral inguinal exploration among pre-school children: a retrospective and prospective study. J Pediatr Surg 31:656–660

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Rowe M, Clatworthy H (1971) The other side of the pediatric inguinal hernia. Surg Clin North Am 51:1371–1376

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Given J, Rubin S (1989) Occurrence of contralateral inguinal hernia following unilateral repair in a pediatric hospital. J Pediatr Surg 24:963–965

    Google Scholar 

  13. Janik J, Shandling B (1982) The vulnerability of the vas deferens (II): the case against routine bilateral inguinal exploration. J Pediatr Surg 17:585–588

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. McGregor DB, Halverson K, McVay CB (1980) The unilateral pediatric inguinal hernia: should the contralateral side be explored? J Pediatr Surg 15:313–317

    Google Scholar 

  15. Surana R, Puri P (1993) Is contralateral exploration necessary in infants with unilateral inguinal hernia. J Pediatr Surg 28:1026–1027

    Google Scholar 

  16. Santulli TV, Shaw A (1961) Inguinal hernia: infancy and childhood. JAMA 176:110–113

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Fung A, Barsoum G, Bentley TM, Wild K, Klidjian AM (1992) Inguinal herniotomy in young infants. Br J Surg 79:1071–1072

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Harvey MH, Johnstone MJS, Fossard DP (1985) Inguinal herniotomy in children: a five year survey. Br J Surg 72:485–487

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Kapur P, Caty MG, Glick PL (1998) Pediatric surgery for the primary care pediatrician, part I: pediatric hernias and hydroceles. Pediatr Clin North Am 45:773–789

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Pillai SB, Besner GE (1998) Pediatric surgery for primary care pediatrician, part I: pediatric testicular problems. Pediatr Clin North Am 45:813–830

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Hutson JM, Beasley SW (1992) Descent of the testis. Edward Arnold, London Melbourne Auckland

  22. Kogan SJ, Houman BZ, Reda EF, Levitt SB (1989) Orchidopexy of the high undescended testis by division of the spermatic vessels: a critical review of 38 selected transections. J Urol 141:1416–1419

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Pandit SK, Rattan KN, Budhiraja S, Solanki RS (2000) Cystic lymphangioma with special reference to rare sites. Indian J Pediatr 67:339–341

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Hurwitz RS, Shapiro E, Hulbert WC, Diamond DA, Casala AJ, Rink RC (1997) Scrotal cystic lymphangioma: the misdiagnosed scrotal mass. J Urol 158:1182–1185

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Singla SL, Rattan KN, Singh S (2000) Cystic hygroma of the gluteal region. Indian J Pediatr 67:779–780

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Castanon M, Margarit J, Carrasco R, Vancella M, Albert A, Morales L (1999) Long term follow-up of nineteen cystic lymphangiomas treated with fibrin sealant. J Pediatr Surg 34:1276–1279

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Wunderbaldinger P, Paya K, Partik B, Turetschek K, Horman M, et al. (2000) CT and MR imaging of generalised cystic lymphangiomatosis in pediatric patients. Am J Roentgenol 174:827–832

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Latifoglu O, Yavuzer R, Demir Y, Ayhan S, Yenidunya S, Atabay K (1999) Surgical management of penoscrotal lymphangioma circumscriptum. Plast Reconstr Surg 103:175–178

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Alqahtani A, Nguyen FT, Flageole H, Shaw K, Laberge JM (1999) 25 Years' experience with lymphangiomas in children. J Pediatr Surg 34:1164–1168

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, P.O. Box 1934, Kumasi, Ghana

    F. A. Abantanga

Authors
  1. F. A. Abantanga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. A. Abantanga.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Abantanga, F.A. Groin and scrotal swellings in children aged 5 years and below: a review of 535 cases. Ped Surgery Int 19, 446–450 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-002-0939-4

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-002-0939-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation