GP Missed Testicular Torsion

Painful testicles in a teenage boy should, for most GPs, be a red flag. Unfortunately for Master T his GP failed to diagnose a common condition called Testicular Torsion. This resulted in a delay in Master T receiving treatment for the condition and he had to have one of his testicles removed (an orchidectomy) and a prosthetic replacement fitted.

Testicular Torsion, relatively common in young men and teenage boys, is a condition where the spermatic cord becomes twisted and the main blood supply to the testicle is interrupted. If it is not diagnosed and treated promptly then the consequences can be severe – the testicle may die and, as in Master T’s case, will need to be removed. 

Although the procedure did not reduce the possibility of Master T fathering a child in the future, both the aesthetic and psychological implications were considered when the compensation was awarded. The TSP Clinical Negligence team secured £15,000 compensation for Master T for the physical and emotional distress caused.