Management of intermittent ovarian torsion by laparoscopic oophoropexy

BACKGROUND: Ovarian torsion is a serious gynecologic condition that often results in adnexal removal. If recurrent, this can result in castration of young patients. Torsion in the pediatric population is rare, but it presents more management challenges for gynecologists. There are few reports of prophylactic oophoropexy in patients with intermittent torsion. CASE: A patient with a history of left adnexal torsion was treated with salpingo-oophorectomy at age 10. She subsequently presented at age 12 with right lower quadrant pain, and was found to have a 7 x 6 cm right adnexal mass on ultrasound examination. She was diagnosed with ovarian edema secondary to intermittent torsion. At laparoscopy, she was found to have a 3-cm utero-ovarian ligament. She was treated with laparoscopic shortening of the utero-ovarian ligament, and has remained symptom-free for 1 year. CONCLUSION: We believe that this is the first reported case of laparoscopic triplication of the utero-ovarian ligament to prevent recurrent torsion. In young patients, this treatment may be a reasonable alternative to oophoropexy as prophylaxis for ovarian torsion.