An msnbc.com poll of 100 urologists, conducted by
Truth On Call, showed that 30 percent of the doctors had seen or treated pre-teen and teen boys for testicular trauma in the past year, including severe injuries caused by so-called “sack-tapping,” in which boys ambush others at school and elsewhere.
The issue was highlighted by news last week that a 14-year-old Minnesota boy, David Gibbons,
had to have his right testicle removed after a hallway assault.
“This is, in fact, a form of bullying,” Atala said. “Someone may do that without realizing the consequences of their actions.”
Bruises, blood clots, testicular torsion — in which the organ twists up to 360 degrees — and, more rarely, testicular rupture, all are consequences of blunt force trauma to the testicles, including injuries caused by close-range punches.