Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Vessel-sparing Excision and Primary Anastomosis
Published on: January 7, 2019
[Long term results of orchidopexy: transscrotal fixation versus Dartos-pouch]
1Abteilung für Kinderchirurgie, Chirurgische Universitätsklinik und Poliklinik, Julius-Maximilians-Universität, Würzburg. thomas.meyer@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
Unlabelled:
The aim in treating the undescended testis is to move the testis, without tension, permanently and deeply into the scrotum. Depending on the treatment, literature reveals a quote of relapses up to > 10 %. It was the aim of our investigations to judge in how far the quote of relapses after operative treatment of undescended testes can be related to the technique of operation.
Methods:
Two groups with maldescensus testis treated by two different techniques of orchidopexy were compared retrospectively. 692 boys (mean age: 4.7 years; median age: 4.0 years) with 867 undescended testes underwent operative orchidopexy by the Gross technique (group 1). In comparison, the Petrivalsky/Schoemaker technique was performed on 493 boys (mean age: 5.0 years; median age: 4.0 years) with 609 undescended testes (group 2). Three months to eight years after operative treatment, the localisation and size of the testis was recorded.
Results:
(1) In group 1 there were 39.3 % right-sided, 35.4 % left-sided and 25.3 % bilateral undescended testes. Primary operations were performed on 612 of 692 boys (88.4 %), whereas 469 patients (76.6 %) had a follow-up examination: the operation by using the Gross technique was successful in 90.6 % of the cases; there was an atrophy of the testis in 0.2 % and relapses were found in 9.2 %. (2) In group 2 there were 41.2 % right-sided, 35.3 % left-sided and 23.5 % bilateral undescended testes. Primary operations were performed on 446 of 493 boys (90.5 %), whereas 353 patients (79.1 %) had a follow-up examination: the operation using the Petrivalsky/Schoemaker technique was successful in 95.5 % of the cases; there was an atrophy of the testis in 0.3 % and relapses were found only in 4.2 %. (3) Under the same outer conditions the amount of relapses after orchidopexy was significantly (p < 0.025) smaller in group 2 (Petrivalsky/Schoemaker technique) than in group 1 (Gross technique).
Conclusion:
Our observations show that the Petrivalsky/Schoemaker technique for the operative treatment of undescended testis results in a significantly lower rate of relapses. However, the consequences of both techniques concerning fertility must be discussed after further investigations.
