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Open Access
CC BY 4.0 · Eur J Pediatr Surg
DOI: 10.1055/a-2786-3629
Original Article

Is Preoperative Antimicrobial Prophylaxis Necessary in Testicular Torsion Surgery? Results from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric

Authors

  • Alexandra Stone 

    1   Department of Urology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States

  • Maithili Gopalakrishnan

    1   Department of Urology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States

  • Anthony Tracey

    1   Department of Urology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States

  • Matthew Mason

    1   Department of Urology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States

  • Jeffrey Villanueva

    1   Department of Urology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States
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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) on testicular torsion surgery (TTS) postoperative outcomes using data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric (NSQIP-P). Across multiple studies, NSQIP-P has proven increased sensitivity in recording postoperative complications compared with similar databases.

Methods

The 2021–2023 NSQIP-P participant user and SAP files were queried for all TTSs. Patients with unrecorded SAP administration data (n = 2,725) were excluded. Postoperative events were then compared between subjects who did or did not receive SAP. Primary outcomes included rates of surgical site infection (SSI), 30-day readmission, and 30-day reoperation. SPSS statistical software was used to perform comparative statistical analyses between groups.

Results

A total of 614 patients were included in the study and divided into Group 1 (+SAP, n = 322) and Group 2 (−SAP, n = 292). In the +SAP group, there was no observation of SSI, but one case resulted in 30-day readmission and reoperation. Another 30-day readmission and 30-day reoperation were noted, as well. In the −SAP, there was one observation of a deep incisional SSI who was readmitted. There were no 30-day reoperations in this group. There was no statistical significance in outcomes between the two groups.

Conclusion

To date, this is the first study assessing the impact of SAP in torsion-reduction surgeries using the NSQIP-P database. There is a low frequency of postoperative complications with this procedure. Our study suggests limited utility of SAP with this surgery despite continued use.

Keywords

antibiotics - prophylaxis - testicular torsion


Publication History

Received: 03 October 2025

Accepted: 12 January 2026

Accepted Manuscript online:
15 January 2026

Article published online:
22 January 2026

© 2026. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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