[National testis registration]

In order to gain an impression of the documentation of the testes position in the first few days after delivery an inquiry was held among all clinical paediatricians. The response was 62%. Figure I shows where the localisation of the testes is registered systematically and where it is not. Between 1982 and 1988 the number of operations for undescended testes according to figures from the Dutch Centre for Health Care Information (SIG) decreased from 5928 to 2889. The expected number of operations per year is approximately 800. The number of unilateral orchidopexy operations per 1000 boys of 0-19 years old per year shows considerable geographic variation: in 1982 it ranged from 1.1 to 4.8 and in 1988 from 0.5 to 2.4. The documentation of the position of the testes in the first few days after delivery is important to prevent unnecessary operations.