Patient Reported Experiences With Sparing External Oblique Fascia Vs Standard Inguinal Orchiectomy

Radical inguinal orchiectomy is the standard of care surgical approach for removing a testicle when clinically there is concern for testicular cancer. The procedure is generally minor and performed in the outpatient setting. Recent data demonstrates a trend towards high opioid prescription following this procedure in an attempt to minimize postoperative pain, which is associated with persistent new opioid use in the future. Numerous efforts have been put in place to minimize postoperative pain following scrotal procedures, with success noted when opioid sparing pathways have been adopted. However, there has been sparse data on modifications within surgical technique that could improve patient pain following this procedure.

There have been various descriptions of technique to performing a radical orchiectomy which involves removal of the diseased testicle and spermatic cord. Classically, performing a radical inguinal orchiectomy involves incision of the external oblique fascia to expose and ligate the spermatic cord. During this step, the ilioinguinal nerve is exposed and can be injured by either traction injury or inadvertent transection. Modifications to this technique have been described which involve sparing of the external oblique fascia. Both approaches are performed via a similar incision and both the testicle and spermatic cord are removed. In fascia sparing modification, the spermatic cord is controlled, dissected, and subsequently ligated at the level of the superficial inguinal ring without incising the external oblique fascia. Proponents of this approach suggest the potential for less convalescence and faster recovery due to less tissue manipulation and avoidance of disturbances to the ilioinguinal nerve. Despite this potential benefit, there is no evidence to demonstrate superiority of either approach as it relates to patient recovery.

Therefore, we propose a randomized single-blinded clinical trial investigating postoperative pain outcomes of inguinal radical orchiectomy compared to external oblique fascia sparing radical orchiectomy.

Inclusion criteria

• Participants undergoing radical orchiectomy for suspected testicular malignancy
• Testicular malignancy can be germ cell tumor or non germ cell tumors, including paratesticular tumors as long as a radical orchiectomy is planned
• Participants over 18 years of age who can provide informed consent
• Participants not currently using opiates for another reason
• Regional and metastatic patients are allowed, as long as participant does not require opiates for pain related to metastatic disease
• No contraindication for participant to receive standardized medication pathway in the peri-operative period.

Exclusion criteria

• Clinical T4 disease
• History of illicit substance abuse (including prior opioid abuse) except for marijuana
• Participants who underwent chemotherapy or radiotherapy prior to orchiectomy
• Opioid use within 1 month of study enrollment
• Participants with large testis masses requiring skin incision larger than 8 cm in size.
• Participants with large testis masses requiring orchiectomy through an incision other than the standard transverse inguinal incision (i.e. hockey stick incision, vertical incision)