In 62 planned staged orchiorrhaphies for a "short" spermatic cord, satisfactory location of the testicle following the second operation was achieved in 90% of cases. The testicle was atrophic and had to be excised in only 3.2%.
After a follow-up period of two to ten years, the testicle remained satisfactorily located in 77% of cases; adequate size and configuration of the testicle (compared to the contralateral side) was found in 64.5%. In 17%, a partial or complete atrophy developed.
No correlation was found between the initial size of the testicle and the late results. It is advocated, therefore, that excision be avoided unless definite atrophy exists.
Planned staged orchiorrhaphy is recommended for testicles in high locations that are difficult to bring down. The late preschool period (5 to 6 years) is suggested as the optimal age for the first attempt at orchiorrhaphy and the second stage two years later, if required.