Undescended Testis: Timing of Surgery and Patient Follow-Up

Background:The current recommended age of orchidopexy in Undescended Testis (UDT) is 6 -18 months.The main goal of this timing is to allow time for complete descent, to prevent the impairment of spermatogenesis, and to decrease the risk of malignancy in later life.Objective: To study the timing of surgery and post-operative follow-up in children managed for UDT. Patients and method:We performed a retrospective review of UDT managed between Jan 2013 and Dec 2022, at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, Nigeria.Data extracted from ward, operating theater and medical records department were entered into specifically designed pro-forma.The data were collated and analyzed by univariate analysis.Results: A total of 102 UDT patients were managed during the 10-year period, but only the clinical records of 90 patients with 115 UDT were accessible for review.This comprised 65 (72.2%)unilateral and 25 (27.8%)bilateral cases.Mean age at operation was 6.6 years.Mean length of post-operative follow up was 5.2 months.Short term outcome was satisfactory in all patients.There was no long-term follow-up for infertility and malignancy. Conclusion:Majority of UDT in this study presented late and thus operated on late.Patients presenting late, should be enlisted into a strict and well-defined protocol of long-term follow-up.We advocate for awareness campaign to reduce the delay in presentation.