Undescended testicle repair: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P Undescended testicle repair is surgery to correct testicles that have not dropped down into the correct position in the scrotum.

T Description
P The testicles develop in the infant's abdomen as the baby grows in the womb. They drop down into the scrotum in the last months before birth.
P In some cases, one or both testicles do not drop into the correct position. About one half of these cases will descend within the first year of life without treatment.
P Undescended testicle repair surgery is recommended for males whose testicles do not descend on their own.
P The surgery is done while the child is asleep (unconscious) and pain-free under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes a cut in the groin. This is where most undescended testes are located.
P After finding the cord that holds the testis in the scrotum, the surgeon unties it from the tissue around it. This allows the cord to extend to its full length. A small cut is made in the scrotum, and a pouch is created. The testicle is pulled down into the scrotum, and stitched into place. Stitches are used to close the surgical cuts.
P In some cases, the procedure can be done laparoscopically. This involves smaller surgical cuts.
P When the testicle is located very high, correction may require two stages. Separate surgeries are done several months apart.

T Why the Procedure is Performed
P This surgery is recommended for infants older than 1 year whose testicles have not descended into the scrotum (cryptorchidism).
P An undescended testicle is different from a "retractile" testicle. In this condition, the testicle drops into the scrotum and then pulls back. Retractile testicles do not need surgery.

T Risks
P Risks for any anesthesia are:
- Reactions to medicines
- Problems breathing
P Risks for any surgery are:
- Bleeding
- Infection

T After the Procedure
P Undescended testicle repair is successful in most cases. A small percentage of men will have fertility problems.
P Men who have had undescended testicles should do monthly self-exams for the rest of their lives to look for possible tumors. Men with undescended testes have higher rates of testicular cancer than those with normal testicle development, even if they have a fully descended testicle on the other side. There is also a higher risk for testicular cancer in the other testicle that descended normally. Bringing the testicles down will make it easier to monitor for tumor growth in the future.

T Outlook (Prognosis)
P The surgery may be done on an outpatient basis. Bed rest is recommended for the first 2 to 3 days. Avoid strenuous activity, including bicycling, for at least 1 month.

T Alternative Names
P Orchidopexy; Inguinal orchidopexy; Orchiopexy; Repair of undescended testicle; Cryptorchidism repair

T Images
- Male reproductive anatomy
- Before and after testicular repair

T References
P Barthold JS, Hagerty JA. Etiology, diagnosis, and management of the undescended testis. In: Wein AJ, Kavoussi LR, Partin AW, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 148.
P Elder JS. Disorders and anomalies of the scrotal contents. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme JW, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 545.

T Review Date 1/30/2017
P Updated by: Jennifer Sobol, DO, urologist with the Michigan Institute of Urology, West Bloomfield, MI. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

