Abstract
Purpose
The optimal age at which to perform orchiopexy for cryptorchidism
has long been debated. The aim of this study was to determine if age at
orchiopexy affected testicular atrophy.
Methods
A retrospective review of patients undergoing orchiopexy from 2000
to 2010 was conducted. An individual testis, rather than patient, was used as
the dependent variable. A total of 349 testicles from 1126 charts
(ICD-9=752.51) were identified. Primary study outcome was testicular survival
without atrophy.
Results
Mean follow up for the study was 25months. There was postoperative
atrophy in 27 testes (7.7%). Intraabdominal testicle was independently
associated with increased postsurgical atrophy (p<0.0001). The odds of
postsurgical atrophy were 15.66 times higher for an abdominal vs. inguinal
location (95% CI: 5.5–44.6). Testicular atrophy was highest for orchiopexy at
ages 13–24months (n=16 of 133, 12%) vs. those less than 13months (n=3 of 64,
5%), and those greater than 24months (n=8 of 152, 5%) (p=0.0024). After
adjusting for location, age was not statistically significant with postsurgical
atrophy (p=0.055).
Conclusions
From this study we conclude that there is no increase in testicular
atrophy in patients less than 13months.
