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INTRODUCTION
Cryptorchidism is the most common pathology during childhood (1), affecting 2-4% of children at birth and decreasing to 1% in the first year of life (2,3). The majority of cryptorchidic testes are in the superficial inguinal pouch of Denis Browne, making inguinal exploration the traditional surgical correction procedure (4).
The inguinal procedure requires two incisions: one in the groin to release the testicle, and another scrotal incision to make a pocket to accommodate the testicle. In order to reduce the potential morbidity of this treatment, in 1989 Bianchi and Squire introduced a technique utilizing a single scrotal incision (5). It is suggested that this technique adds the advantages of a single incision, shorter operation time, ease of dissection, accelerated healing, less pain, good maintenance of testicular position and an excellent cosmetic result (6).
Despite the good results of transcrotal orchiopexy found in the literature, its use is not widespread. The objective of this study is to perform a systematic review on the subject.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Our Experience
We retrospectively evaluated 18 patients (22 testes) who underwent scrotal orchiopexy between August 2007 and August 2009. We reviewed the charts concerning laterality of the surgery, age of the patients, inguinal conduit persistence and whether the patients had undergone a previous surgery for undescended testis.
All patients were examined under anesthesia and the decision of whether or not to perform a transcrotal approach was based on the ability to push the testis to the level of external inguinal ring. The incision was horizontal at the lowest part of the hemiscrotum for unilateral cases (Figures 1a and 1b), and longitudinal at the scrotal raphe for bilateral undescended testes (Figure-2).
In the technique of scrotal orchiopexy we first manipulate the testis down toward the external inguinal ring. The testis is grasped with the thumb and the index finger. With the surgeon keeping traction on the testis the scrotal incision is performed and the testis and spermatic chord are freed from the cremasteric fascia (Figure-1a). When present, the inguinal conduit persistence is closed. Because the inguinal canal is short in children, the conduit can be closed at the level of the internal inguinal ring. The dissection of the inguinal conduit elongates enough the spermatic chord, making it possible for the testes to reach the scrotum easily. The testes are fixated in the scrotum by means of a Dartos pouch. The patients are discharged the same day of the surgery.
The patients were followed up regularly. They were directed to return to the office one week, one month and six months after surgery and then on a yearly basis.
Systematic review
A systematic review was performed through an electronic search on the Pubmed database using the following key words and combinations thereof: scrotal incision, cryptorchidism, orchiopexy and undescended testis. The search yielded 133 articles. Prospective and retrospective articles were selected which evaluated children with primary cryptorchidism who were treated surgically through single scrotal incision orchiopexy. Articles were excluded if they: evaluated secondary cryptorchidism from previous procedures or any other pathology; evaluated patients who underwent orchiopexy via another procedure (inguinal or laparoscopic). The effectiveness of the technique was evaluated, defined as the presence of the testis in the scrotum after the procedure, without subsequent hypotrophy or atrophy, and without the need for an inguinal incision.
After evaluating the abstracts, 88 articles were excluded that dealt with other issues, 23 that used laparoscopy as a means of access, and 4 which were review articles; 18 articles remained to be reviewed. After verifying the references of the selected articles, we included two articles (7,8), giving a total of 20 articles. After analyzing the full articles, one study was excluded which studied the same group of patients as another study published later (9), one article which evaluated the technique in patients with retractile and reoperated testicles (10), another which only evaluated patients with secondary or relapsed cryptorchidism and another article which did not evaluate the surgical results of the orchiopexy separately from other inguinal procedures (8). In the end, 16 articles were selected for review. The present study was completed in March 2011.
RESULTS
Our results
Eighteen patients (22 testes) underwent scrotal orchiopexy. The surgery could be performed via scrotal approach in all cases and the testes could be brought down to the scrotum with no tension. No inguinal incision was necessary.
Persistence of inguinal conduit was found in 16 (72%) cases. In all, the conduit could be closed at the level of inguinal internal ring. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications.
Two patients had unsuccessfully undergone previous inguinal surgery for undescended testis. The testes remained in the superficial inguinal pouch of Denis Browne and could be approached via scrotal approach with no complication.
In a mean follow up of 18 months (ranging from 3 to 37 months), no complication such as infection, testicular atrophy, hydrocele or hernia was observed.
Systematic review
Results are shown in Table-1. A total of 1558 orchiopexy surgeries initiated with a transscrotal incision were analyzed. The patients were examined in standing positions and under anesthesia, excluding cases of retractile testis. The age range varied between 5 months and 21 years. All patients studied underwent single scrotal incision orchiopexy; 13 studies used high scrotal incisions, and low scrotal incisions were performed in the remainder. Eleven studies recorded the incidence of patent processus vaginalis, which was present in 324 of the 1090 cases evaluated (29.7%).
Table 1 - Review of the published literature about transcrotal orchidopexy.
| Authors | Year | Design | No. of patients | No. of Orchiopexies | Incision | Patent Processus Vaginalis | Inguinal incision | Age | Intraoperative complications | Postoperative complications | Follow-up | Eficacy (%) | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lais A et al | 1996 | Prospective | 50 | 50 | High scrotal | 13 | 3 | 5 months to 14 years (mean 5 years) | 0 | Hematoma: 3; Recurrence: 1; Hipotrophy: 2 | 3 to 5 years | 88 | 15 |
| Misra D et al | 1997 | Prospective | NE | 67 | High scrotal | 0 | 9 | 1 to 12 years (mean: 6.8 years) | 0 | 0 | 1 to 5 years | 86.5 | 14 |
| Jawad AJ | 1997 | Prospective | 96 | 106 | High scrotal | NE | 14 | 14 months to 11 years (mean: 41 months) | 0 | Recurrence: 5; Atrophy: 2; Hematoma: 16; Infection: 2 | 8 to 36 months (mean: 16 months) | 93.3 | 2 |
| Caruso A et al | 2000 | Prospective | 34 | 42 | High scrotal | 3 | 1 | media: 03 years (mean: 14 months) | 0 | Recurrence: 1 | 6 months to 2 years (mean: 1 year) | 96.6 | 4 |
| Parsons JK et al | 2003 | Prospective | 52 | 66 | Low scrotal | 13 | 0 | Below 2 years-old: 16 patients; 2 to 6 years: 19 patients; 6 years: 17 patients | 0 | 0 | 3 months | 100 | 17 |
| Russinko PJ et al | 2003 | Retrospective | 78 | 85 | High scrotal | 58 | 1 | 4.5 years (0.5 a 24 years) | 0 | Recurrence: 2; Hematoma: 1; Atrophy: 1; Infection: 1 | 1 to 36 months (mean: 6 months ) | 95.2 | 16 |
| Handa R et al | 2006 | Prospective | 28 | 35 | High scrotal | NE | 0 | 10 months to 9 years | 0 | Infection: 1; Hernia: 1 | 2 to 6 months | 100 | 19 |
| Dayanc M et al | 2007 | Prospective | 166 | 204 | High scrotal | 72 | 12 | 10 months to 12 years (mean 2.2 years; median 3.2 years) | NE | Hydrocele: 1; Hernia: 01; | 16 to 68 months | 92.7 | 1 |
| Bassel YS et al | 2007 | Retrospective | 103 | 121 | High scrotal | 75 | 0 | 6 months a 13 years (mean: 4.5 years) | 0 | Infection: 4 | 6 months to 1 year | 100 | 21 |
| Samuel DG et al | 2008 | Prospective | 156 | 206 | High scrotal | NE | 1 | 1 a 21 years (mean: 4.26 years) | 0 | Infection: 2 | 2 years | 99.95 | 11 |
| Takahashi M et al | 2009 | Prospective | 32 | 49 | Low scrotal | 14 | 0 | 11.5 a 114.0 months (mean: 39.3 months) | 0 | Recurrence: 1 | 12.1 to 68.8 months (mean: 39.1 months) | 97.95% | 18 |
| Al-Mandil M et al | 2008 | Retrospective | 56 | 63 | Low scrotal | NE | 0 | 4.6 years | 0 | Recurrence: 1; Hydrocele: 1; Hernias: 2; Infection: 1 | 6 to 42 months | 98.41 | 20 |
| Callewaert PR et al | 2009 | Prospective | 154 | 194 | High scrotal | 11 | 2 | 4 a 229 months (mean: 71 months) | Seccion of vas deferens: 1 | Hematoma: 1; Infection: 2 | 3 to 22 months (mean: 10 months) | 100 | 12 |
| Gordon M et al | 2010 | Retrospective | 118 | 122 | Low scrotal | NE | 3 | 10 months to 8 years | 0 | Recurrence: 12 | 6 months to 1 year | 89.3 | 6 |
| Cloutier J et al | 2011 | Retrospective | 44 | 60 | High scrotal | NE | 1 | 53 (± 23) months | 0 | Recurrence: 1; Hematoma: 1 | 3 months to 2 years | 99.3 | 3 |
| Yucel S et al | 2011 | Retrospective | 74 | 88 | High scrotal | 65 | 8 | 6 months to 11 years (mean: 4.9 years) | 0 | 0 | 3 to 12 months (mean: 7.1 months) | 90.9 | 13 |
| Authors | 2007 - 2009 | Prospective | 16 (more 2 patients was re-do) | 20 (more 2 cases was re-do) | Low scrotal | 16 | 0 | 3 to 108 months (mean 42.5 months) | 0 | 0 | 3 to 17 months (mean: 18 months) | 100 | - |
NE: not evaluated
In 55 cases (3.53%) an inguinal incision was necessary. These patients had high testes (1,2,11-14) requiring retroperitoneal dissection (4,13,15) or the presence of the vaginal process or hernia (1,11,16).
Only one case presented intraoperative complications (injury to the vas deferens). Study 3 did not evaluate intraoperative complications. In one article, the authors reported no intraoperative or postoperative complications and 100% efficacy. In this study, the follow-up was only 3 months (17).
The post-operative follow-up was heterogeneous, ranging from 3 months to 5 years, with a lack of follow-up in some studies. Recurrence was observed in 9 cases (2-4,16,18), testicular atrophy in 3 (2,16), testicular hypotrophy in 2 patients (11) and surgical site infections in 13 (2,11,12,16,19-21). Hematomas occurred in 22 cases (2,3,12,15,16); in Study 2 alone 16 cases of hematoma were observed (15.09% of the patients in the study). Study 2 also showed the highest rates of testicular atrophy (2 cases) and recurrence (5 cases), out of a total of 106 orchiopexies.
Given the concept of efficacy that was pre-established (the post-operative result after single scrotal incision orchiopexy, with no subsequent atrophy, hypotrophy or any other complication that may result in orchiectomy), rates of success were found to be between 88 and 100%, as shown in Table-1.
DISCUSSION
Orchiopexy is a necessary procedure for the treatment of a common problem in the pediatric population. It is traditionally performed through an inguinal procedure, with a second incision made in the scrotum to set the testicle. After introduction of the single incision transcrotal technique by Bianchi and Squire in 1989, it became possible to treat these patients with high rates of effectiveness and lower postoperative morbidity.
After analyzing the selected articles, a high level of efficacy was observed in scrotal surgery, which was able to be performed in 85% of cases. Unfortunately, the location of the testis and the criteria for surgery are not well established in the studies, making it difficult to compare them in terms of efficacy.
The rate of relapse was small (1.43%), as was the rate of testicular atrophy/hypotrophy (0.3%). However, the follow-up times presented in the studies are short and many do not provide follow-ups. In 1995, Docimo et al. (22) conducted a systematic review, analyzing 8425 inguinal orchiopexies. Among these studies, the position of the testicles was identified in only 2491 of them. It was observed that the success rate of the surgery after 6 months of follow-up was 83.9% for the cases of intracanalicular testes and 92.3% for the cases with testes in the external inguinal ring. When the authors analyzed the literature that has been published since 1985, the success rates rose to 95.7% with intracanalicular testes and 100% with the testes located below the external inguinal ring. Finally, when analyzing a subgroup of patients who only underwent the inguinal procedure (1556 orchiopexies), the rate of success after 6 months was 86.4%. When analyzing the data after 1985 (677 orchiopexies), the success rate was 85.2%.
The incidence of patent processus vaginalis varied among the studies. In cryptorchidism, the processus vaginalis was patent in 20 to 73% of cases (13,17), and was lower in cases of retractile testes. Therefore, we can infer that the surgery was indicated for many gliding testis. The lack of surgical reports regarding the presence of this finding may interfere with the result.
The fact that only four hernias occurred postoperatively may reflect the lack of follow-up, but may also reflect the effectiveness of treating patent processus vaginalis through the scrotum. In children, the inguinal portion of the processus vaginalis is short (median 1 cm in children under 2 years and median 1.1 cm in children over 4 years) (23) and by using traction, it is possible to perform the tubal ligation at practically the same level as the internal inguinal ring.
Only 11 articles report the location of the testis; in 8 of the studies the authors indicated scrotal orchiopexy for all the cases and in 8 studies the surgery was only indicated when it was possible to bring the testicles to the scrotum with the patient anesthetized (1,3,11,14,16,18,19,21). In 5 studies the rate of success was higher than 95% and two reported 100% of success. In our experience using this method, we were able to adequately position the testicles in the scrotum in all cases. In our department, low scrotal incision orchiopexy is indicated for cases where traction and relocation of the testis to the upper third of the scrotum is possible with the patient anesthetized. We have operated on 22 consecutive orchiopexies through low scrotal incisions (data not published) and found persistent processus vaginalis in 16 cases (72%). In all cases, it was possible to dissect and correct the patency of the processus vaginalis through the same incision. After a mean follow-up of 18 months, we did not find a single recurrence or any complication such as surgical site infection, hematomas, or atrophy.
This systematic review demonstrates the poor methodological quality of the articles which are available for the comparison of data. There was a significant lack of follow-up, some studies are retrospective, there is no randomization, and a great heterogeneity of techniques was used (high and low incisions); there was also a heterogeneity of cases selected (there are cases in which impalpable testes were treated by single scrotal incision). Given this heterogeneity, it is impossible to conduct a meta-analysis of the success rate.
Based on the evidence presented in the literature, we believe that in the cases in which the testicles are found in a low position, making it possible to move them to the scrotum, scrotal orchiopexy is the procedure of choice. However, for those testicles that are located in a higher position, comparative studies with inguinal orchiopexy should be performed.
CONCLUSIONS
Single scrotal incision orchiopexy is an effective technique associated with low complication rates. We believe that this technique is preferable in cases where the testicles are displaced up to the level of the external inguinal ring, even in reoperations and cases of previous inguinal surgery. Randomized, prospective, and multicenter studies are necessary to obtain better scientific evidence, specially for those testicles that are located in a higher position.
