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Boys’ Groin Injuries No Laughing Matter

Groin injuries are a classic schtick when it comes to slapstick comedy but when they come to a young boy’s real injury, it’s just not a laughing matter, according to Dr. Anthony Atala.  Atala has just released some recommendations for parents regarding appropriate protective attire for even the youngest athletes.  And, for those moments when injuries happen in spite of the best advance preparation, Atala’s described some common injuries to the groin area that parents need to be aware of, too.

In his work as a pediatric urologist with North Carolina’s Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Atala has seen his share of testicular injuries to young boys competing in athletic events.  He is a staunch advocate of athletic supporters and protective cups to protect against injury and to minimize the severity of those that do occur.

Athletc supporters and cups, also called protective plastic inserts, come in various sizes and can be purchased at most stores selling athletic or sporting equipment.  They work by holding the testicles as close to the body as possible, which keeps them stationary and less likely to be injured by blunt force trauma, an event that occurs often in many of the most popular sports.

In the event no appropriately sized athletic cup can be found for the youngest athletes in the family, parents should dress their sons in briefs, instead of boxers, while suiting up for the game and for every practice session, too.  Atala suggests briefs a size too small for the most protection.

Internal bleeding, bruising, and testicular fracture and rupture can occur when a child’s groin area becomes injured during practice or a sporting event.  Trauma to the groin region is certainly painful but injuries can be severe enough to cause the death of testicular tissue that can kill the testicle itself.  In this situation, infection and other complications can mean surgical removal of the injured testicle.

Another injury, testicular torsion, is very rare but can be very serious, too.  This situation occurs when the cord suspending the testis into the scrotum becomes twisted.  The restriction of blood flow through the twisted cord can lead to testicular tissue death and the potential for surgical removal.

Atala says there is an alarming number of young boys who have lost a testicle because a groin injury wasn’t treated promptly and seriously when it occurred.  Anytime testicular pain starts suddenly or is especially severe, medical attention is required.  If there is swelling on either side of the scrotum after injury, medical attention is a necessity in this situation, too.

Source: American Urological Association

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