Pinhole castration: a novel minimally invasive technique for in situ spermatic cord ligation

OBJECTIVE: To describe a minimally invasive technique for castration of bull calves by in situ ligation of the spermatic cord. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. ANIMALS: Male calves (n=6) aged, 48-56 days. METHODS: Calves were blocked by weight and then separated into 3 groups: (1) bilateral spermatic cord ligation; (2) unilateral-1 spermatic cord ligated; and (3) control-neither spermatic cord ligated. After local anesthesia, in situ spermatic cord ligation was achieved by restraining the cord laterally within the scrotal sac and passing suture through a hypodermic needle inserted caudal to cranial at the neck of the scrotum and adjacent the medial margin of the restrained spermatic cord. The needle was removed leaving the suture in place and the spermatic cord repositioned medially, then the needle was reinserted through the original holes and the suture passed back through the needle, which was withdrawn. The suture ends were tied ligating the spermatic cord, leaving the knot subcutaneously. Calves were monitored and testes removed after 30 days for gross and histologic examination. RESULTS: Castration was accomplished without postoperative complications. Spermatic cord ligation resulted in testis atrophy, and histologically, complete ischemic necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: This novel minimally invasive technique is a simple, alternative method for castration of bull calves. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This method of castration is simply performed, without obvious skin wounds, and no postoperative care needed. The technique should be readily adaptable to other species.