The clinical parameters affecting the management of adnexal torsion

Adnexal torsion, being the fifth most common gynecologic emergency, is responsible for 2.7% of all gynecologic emergencies affecting females of all ages, however, it is rare before menarche and after menopause. It involves the ovary, tube, or the tubaovarian pedicle. Although it is unilateral in most cases, involvement of the contralateral adnexa can be observed in some cases and repetitive cases have also been reported. Partial or total rotation of the adnexa blocks venous and lymphatic flow, and causes congestion of the ovarian parenchyma and hemorrhagic infarction. When the torsion persists, arterial inflow blockage leads to gangrene and hemorrhagic necrosis of the ovary. Prompt identification and treatment of torsion, especially in young women, is crucial for prevention of infarction, and thus preservation of the ovarian function. The objective of this study was to evaluate the history, physical, and laboratory findings in women with surgically proven adnexal torsion, and to find out the characteristics of cases whose ovaries were conserved.