Get answers to your pediatric surgery questions by e-mailing Dr. Eric Strauch.
Dr. Strauch's Bio | Q&A Archive
Undescended testicle repair is surgery to correct undescended testes (cryptorchism).
See also: Undescended testicle
As a baby grows in the womb, the testicles develop in the infant's abdomen and drop down into the scrotum during the last months before birth. In some newborns, however, one or both testicles do not move down into their proper position. About half of these cases will descend within the first year of life without medical treatment.
Undescended testicle repair surgery is recommended for patients whose testicles do not descend on their own.
The surgery is done while the child is unconscious and pain-free under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes a cut in the groin, where most undescended testes are located. After finding the cord that holds the testis within the scrotum, the surgeon unties it from the surrounding tissue so that the cord's full length is used. A small cut is made in the scrotum and a pouch is created. The testicle is carefully pulled down into the scrotum, and stitched into place. Stitches are used to close any surgical cuts.
This surgery is recommended for infants older than 1 year whose testicles have not descended into the scrotum ( cryptorchidism ).
|
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch). |