Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
Surgical Correction for Pediatric Epiblepharon and Trichiasis
Published on: July 8, 2025
Parental perception of optimal surgical age for correction of cryptorchidism: a multicenter surveillance study
Jae Min Chung1, Chang Yell Lee, Dong Gil Kang
1Department of Urology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
Insights
Many parents delay surgical correction for cryptorchidism (undescended testes). Younger, more educated parents with fewer children preferred earlier surgery, highlighting a need for physician intervention and public education.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Urology
- Parental Education
Background:
- Cryptorchidism, or undescended testes, often requires surgical correction (orchiopexy) in childhood.
- Optimal timing for surgical intervention is crucial for successful outcomes and preventing complications.
- Parental understanding of the recommended age for orchiopexy can influence treatment delays.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess parental comprehension of the ideal age for surgical correction of cryptorchidism.
- To identify factors influencing parental decisions regarding the timing of orchiopexy.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter survey was conducted with 377 parents of children who had undergone orchiopexy.
- Parents were categorized into three groups based on their preferred age for surgery: <1 year, 1-2 years, and >3 years.
- Statistical analysis examined associations between parental demographics, perceptions of optimal surgical timing, and treatment delays.
Main Results:
- The mean age of children undergoing orchiopexy was 4.9 years, with significant delays from diagnosis to surgery in some groups.
- Parental age, education level, and number of children were significantly associated with perceptions of optimal surgical timing.
- Parents in the group preferring later surgery cited the child being too young and expectations of spontaneous descent as reasons for delay.
Conclusions:
- Younger parents with higher education and fewer children were more likely to favor earlier surgical correction for cryptorchidism.
- Physician counseling and enhanced public awareness campaigns are recommended to promote timely treatment.
- Addressing parental misconceptions and improving understanding of cryptorchidism management is essential.
Objective:
To perform a multicenter survey to determine how many parents understood the optimal time for surgical correction of cryptorchidism in children.
Methods:
We enrolled 377 parents of patients who had recently undergone surgical correction of cryptorchidism. These parents were divided into 3 groups according to their indicated preference of the optimal patient age for surgical correction: group 1 (<1 year old, 39 parents, 10.3%), group 2 (1-2 years old, 169 parents, 44.8%), and group 3 (>3 years, 169 parents, 44.8%).
Results:
The mean age of the children who underwent orchiopexy was 4.9 ± 5.2 years. The interval from diagnosis to surgical correction of cryptorchidism was 17.1 ± 29.8, 15.4 ± 14.4, and 29.0 ± 24.4 months in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P < .001). The mean age of the parents was significantly associated with the perception of the optimal time for surgical correction of cryptorchidism (P = .021 and P = .002). The number of highly educated parents was lowest in group 3 (P < .001). The number of parents with >2 children was 69.2% in group 1, 71.0% in group 2, and 84.0% in group 3 (P = .009). In group 3, the parents often delayed surgery because of the patient being too young (49.1%) and the parents' expectations of spontaneous descent (48.5%).
Conclusion:
Parents younger in age, with higher education levels and with fewer children, preferred early orchiopexy. Active intervention by a physician and public education for parents might be necessary to encourage earlier treatment of cryptorchidism.
