Groin exploration for the nonpalpable testes: a single center experience

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Urology
• Andrology

Background:

• Management of non-palpable testes in Nigeria is challenging due to late presentation and resource limitations.
• Surgical exploration is frequently necessary for diagnosis and treatment of undescended testes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the management outcomes of clinically non-palpable testes in children within a Nigerian tertiary care setting.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of surgical exploration in resource-limited environments.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 44 testicular units in 32 children (aged 2-15 years) over a 10-year period.
• Analysis of surgical exploration techniques, including groin exploration and mini-laparotomy.
• Assessment of pre-operative ultrasound utility for testicular localization.

Main Results:

• Groin exploration located 77.32% of testicular units, with 64.7% being normal and 35.3% atrophic.
• Mini-laparotomy was required for 22.7% of cases, revealing testes in the retroperitoneum or unlocated.
• Pre-operative ultrasound had a low localization success rate (33.3%).

Conclusions:

• Groin exploration remains a practical and effective approach for managing non-palpable testes in low-resource settings.
• Surgical exploration is crucial for diagnosis and treatment, even without advanced laparoscopic capabilities.
• Delayed presentation and resource constraints impact management outcomes for undescended testes.