title: Testicular catch up growth: the impact of orchiopexy age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the long-term follow-up growth of congenital, unilaterally palpable, undescended testes after orchiopexy according to age at the time of surgery. The optimal age for surgical treatment remains controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 86 patients (108 testes) between the ages of 1 and 9 years underwent orchiopexy. Patients were divided according to age at the time of surgery: group I, <2 years (n = 43); group II, 2 ≤ age < 5 years (n = 35); and group III, ≥5 years (n = 30). The boys were then followed for more than 2 years after surgery. Ultrasonography was used for determination of testicular volume. Testicular volume percentage was compared by the equation of (operated testis volume/normal testis volume × 100%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Testicular location was the inguinal canal in 92 (85.2%) and lower to the external inguinal ring in 16 (14.8%). Only group I, which received orchiopexy within two years from birth, showed significant recovery of testicular volume at follow-up (P <.05), compared with groups II and III.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Orchiopexy performed at less than 2 years from birth was a significant factor for recovery of delayed cryptorchid testicular growth. This result suggests that early orchiopexy improves subsequent testicular catch-up growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Ouck
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eu Chang
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: In Sang
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Kyung Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Seung Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Taek Won
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Dongdeuk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Kwangsung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Soo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bang-Ryu
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D056126:Orchiopexy / Q000379:methods*; D012306:Risk; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D014572:Urology / Q000379:methods