The possibilities of osteopathic correction using in adolescents with varicocele: a pilot study

Introduction. Currently, varicocele remains a largely unresolved problem in urology, and this makes it necessary to search for additional, including non-pharmacological, methods of treatment. In recent years, the effectiveness of osteopathic correction of patients with chronic venous insufficiency has been shown. However, at this moment, the use of osteopathic methods in the treatment of varicocele is not widely used, which makes it relevant to conduct research on this topic.

The aim is to explore the possibility to use the osteopathic correction in adolescents with varicocele.

Materials and methods. The study involved 40 participants aged 13–17 years. Two groups were formed: the main group (20 patients), whose participants received drug treatment and a course of osteopathic correction, and the control group (20 patients, data were collected retrospectively), whose participants received only drug therapy. For both groups, there were collected the parameters (before and after treatment) that characterize the state of the venous network of the spermatic cord (presence/absence of testicular hypotrophy, of cremaster reflex and of a positive Valsalva test; as well as the diameter of the cremaster veins and the value of the resistance index), and information on the presence/absence of pain syndrome.

Results. In the control group, whose participants received only drug therapy, there was a significant (p<0,05) increase in the number of detected cases of pain syndrome and a positive Valsalva test, as well as a significant (p<0,05) increase in cremaster vein diameter at the end of treatment. Participants of the main group, who received osteopathic correction in addition to conservative therapy, were characterized by a significant (p<0,05) decrease in the diameter of the cremaster veins and an increase in the resistance index, the results differed significantly (p<0,05) from the corresponding values in the control group. Also, in the main group at the time of completion of treatment, there were recorded a statistically significantly (p<0,05) lower number of cases of pain syndrome, a positive Valsalva test, and the absence of a cremaster reflex in comparison with the control group.

Conclusion. The results obtained in the framework of this pilot study allow us to positively assess the prospects for the use of osteopathic correction in the treatment of varicocele in adolescents. It is recommended to continue research in this direction over a longer period of time and on a larger sample size, with the obligatory formation of a parallel control.

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