Single Scrotal Incision Orchiopexy for Children with Palpable Low-Lying Undescended Testis: Early Outcome of a Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

PURPOSE: We prospectively evaluated the surgical outcomes of single scrotal incision orchiopexy in children with a palpable undescended testis compared with the traditional two incision orchiopexy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 398 orchiopexies (292 children) were included and randomly assigned to the single scrotal incision orchiopexy group (Group I, 147 children, 201 testes) or the traditional inguinal incision orchiopexy group (Group II, 145 children, 197 testes). The final number of patients enrolled (excluding those lost to follow-up) was 107 children (146 testes) in group I and 105 children (141 testes) in group II. Success was defined as no complications, postoperative intrascrotal location of the testis, and no conversion to the traditional inguinal approach. Surgical outcomes and complications were compared between the two groups. Testicular location, complications, and subjective satisfaction rate were assessed at the follow-up evaluation at least 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The overall success rate in group I was 92.5% in 135 of 146 testes; the remaining 9 testes required conversion to traditional two incision orchiopexy. In group II, orchiopexy was successful in 136 of 141 testes (96.5%). The operation time and hospital stay were significantly shorter in group I (40.5±25.9 minutes, 2.1±0.8 days) than in group II (62.3±35.6 minutes, 2.5±0.7 days), respectively (p<0.001, p=0.03). Postoperative complications were found in two cases (hematoma, wound dehiscence) in group I and in one case (wound dehiscence) in group II; all cases with complications recovered with conservative care. The subjective rate of satisfaction with the cosmetic result was 96.6% in group I and 96.5% in group II (p=0.97). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that single scrotal incision orchiopexy is a simple technique that is associated with a shorter operation time and hospital stay than the traditional method and that is more feasible cosmetically.