title: Orchidopexy trends in the paediatric population of Victoria, 1999-2006.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In recent times, much concern has been expressed in the media about male reproductive health. Undescended testis is a significant contributor to male infertility and testicular cancer. The recommended management is orchidopexy. Recent studies in the United Kingdom have shown a decline in orchidopexy rates in the paediatric population. An analysis of the orchidopexy rate in Victoria was therefore conducted to determine whether a similar trend existed and what factors may contribute toward this.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were extracted from hospital records using operation codes for orchidopexies for all patients between 0 and 18 years in the state of Victoria. Victorian population data were collected from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Data were grouped into orchidopexy age groups 0 to 4, 5 to 9, and 10 to 18 and compared across calendar years using graphical and statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, the rate of operations on 0 to 4-year-old patients reduced by 2.1% each year over the period; the 95% confidence interval for the rate of reduction was 0.4% to 3.8% (P < 0.014). The rate of operations on 5 to 9-year-old patients reduced by 6.3% each year over the period; the 95% confidence interval for the rate of reduction was 3.7% to 8.8% (P < .005). The rate of operations on 10 to 14-year-old patients reduced by 5.7% each year over the period; the 95% confidence interval for the rate of reduction was 1.9% to 9.3% (P = .003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the state of Victoria, there has been a true decline in the number of orchidopexy operations done in the paediatric population. This may represent a true decline in the incidence of disease, a failure of diagnosis, or a failure of management. Further investigation will therefore be required to determine the cause of current trends as the outcome may have significant consequences on male reproductive health.
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Victoria 3052, Australia. tamara_bonney@yahoo.com.au
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bonney
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Southwell
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donnath
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Newgreen
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hutson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000639:trends