ovarian torsion

Learn the basics about this can’t miss diagnosis in this CORE EM post!

Ovarian torsion is like the MI of the pelvis. Sometimes all it takes is a good story to investigate.
When to worry, when to walk it off, and when to work it up.

A 30-year-old female presents to the ED with sudden onset right lower quadrant and flank pain. She has also had severe nausea and vomiting. Abdominal exam reveals significant right lower quadrant tenderness, and pelvic exam reveals tender right adnexa. What’s the next step in your evaluation and treatment?

Welcome to Part 2 of the two-part series on surgical emergencies. This series discusses “cannot miss” diagnoses that require emergent surgical intervention. Today we discuss necrotizing fasciitis, testicular torsion, and ovarian torsion.

Naturally, we have all been taught to think “outside the box” and know to consider conditions outside the abdominal cavity.. When we are thinking outside of the box, make sure we keep Ovarian Torsion on our DDx list for the young girls.