✦ Hydrocele Treatment

Lord's Plication

Q: Is Lord's plication as effective as Jaboulay's procedure?

Lord's plication has slightly higher recurrence rates (10–15%) than Jaboulay's (5%); it is preferred when haematoma risk is a concern.

Q: Can Lord's plication be done under local anaesthesia?

Yes — Lord's plication can be performed under local anaesthetic infiltration for high-risk patients unable to have general anaesthesia.

Q: What happens if the hydrocele comes back after plication?

Recurrent hydroceles can be managed with Jaboulay's hydrocelectomy or aspiration depending on patient preference and tunica thickness. Your consultant will provide specific guidance based on your individual clinical situation and recovery.

Minimally Invasive Plication of the Tunica Vaginalis for Small Hydroceles

20–30 min PROCEDURE

Day Care HOSPITAL STAY

>85% SUCCESS RATE

1 Week RECOVERY

What is Lord's Plication?

Lord's Plication is a technique for hydrocele repair in which the tunica vaginalis is plicated (folded and sutured) with multiple interrupted sutures rather than excised or everted. It is a simpler and quicker procedure than Jaboulay's hydrocelectomy, suitable for smaller hydroceles with thin tunica, and has a lower risk of haematoma formation. It is performed as a day-case procedure under general or local anaesthesia. The procedure is performed under general or spinal anaesthesia with a hospital stay of Day Care. Success rates reach >85% in appropriately selected patients at experienced centres.

Patients with small to moderate primary hydroceles with thin tunica, particularly those at higher risk of haematoma or who prefer a simpler approach. Patients must be adequately fit for anaesthesia and free from active systemic infection before proceeding.

How the Procedure Works

Incision & Access

Small scrotal incision; hydrocele sac delivered without opening the layers fully.

Fluid Aspiration

Hydrocele fluid aspirated through a small incision in the tunica.

Plication Sutures

Multiple interrupted absorbable sutures placed to plicate the tunica around the testis.

Space Reduction

Plicated tunica reduces the potential space for fluid re-accumulation.

Wound Closure

Scrotum closed; scrotal support applied.

Outcomes

20–30 minDURATION

Day CareHOSPITAL STAY

>85%SUCCESS RATE

1 WeekFULL RECOVERY

Who Needs This Treatment?

→Simpler and faster than Jaboulay's hydrocelectomy.
→Lower haematoma risk due to minimal tissue dissection.
→Suitable for patients on anticoagulation or with bleeding risk.
→Day-case procedure with rapid return to normal activities.
→Less post-operative scrotal swelling than eversion techniques.
→Appropriate for elderly or high-risk patients seeking minimal surgery.

"Lord's plication is our preferred technique for smaller hydroceles in patients where minimising haematoma risk is paramount. It is quick, elegant, and provides reliable relief with minimal morbidity."

— — Dr. Vipin Reddy, Consultant Urologist, Andrologist & Renal Transplant Surgeon

Common Questions

Frequently Asked

Is Lord's plication as effective as Jaboulay's procedure?+

Can Lord's plication be done under local anaesthesia?+

What happens if the hydrocele comes back after plication?+

Not sure which treatment is right for you?

Book a consultation with Dr. Vipin Reddy and get a personalised treatment plan.

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