Orchiopexy is a surgical procedure that is performed to correct an undescended testicle, a condition where one or both testicles do not make it from the abdomen to the scrotum during embryonic development. This condition is called cryptorchidism. Orchiopexy is usually recommended if the undescended testicle has not rooted into the scrotum by the age of one year, as delaying treatment can have a negative impact on reproductive capacity and increases the risk of malignant tumours in the testicle.
Orchiopexy of an undescended testicle
The orchiopexy procedure may include:
- 1Anaesthesia: The patient is placed under local, spinal or general anaesthesia, according to the needs and preferences of the doctor and patient.
- 2Access to the testicle: The surgeon accesses the testicle through a small incision in the groin area or abdominal cavity.
- 3Finding the testicle: If the testicle is located outside the scrotum, the surgeon locates it and brings it to the correct position in the scrotum.
- 4Fixation of the testicle: The testicle is fixed in the scrotum using sutures or other fixation materials.