Haemoperitoneum secondary to testicular rupture caused by blunt trauma in a stallion

Abstract

Testicular trauma is a commonly reported consequence of injury to the scrotum in humans and horses. In the majority of cases in stallions, injury is caused by a kick from a mare during mating. This case report describes a traumatically induced unilateral testicular rupture in a stallion associated with haemoperitoneum and acute, severe signs of abdominal discomfort. Initially, testicular ultrasound and clinical examinations were inconclusive and the clinical signs led to a diagnosis of an inflammatory abdominal disorder, possibly caused by inguinoscrotal herniation. The patient underwent exploratory celiotomy with unilateral orchiectomy at which time no involvement of the gastrointestinal tract was noted (aside from the presence of haemoperitoneum) and the testicular trauma was discovered. As this case demonstrates, testicular trauma should be considered as a differential diagnosis for inguinoscrotal herniation in stallions with clinical signs of discomfort even when there is no history of recent mating. Detailed clinical examination should be performed to establish a diagnosis but may not be conclusive.