Does the Initial Source of Recognition-Clinician versus Caregiver-Affect the Age at Orchidopexy for Undescended Testis? A Retrospective Comparative Analysis of 283 Cases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate institutional adherence to international guidelines regarding the timing of treatment for undescended testis (UDT) and investigate the impact of the initial source of recognition on age at orchidopexy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 283 patients who underwent orchidopexy for UDT between 2012 and 2022. Chronological age, laterality, and the initial source of recognition (clinician vs. primary caregiver) were evaluated using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 28. Variables were compared using the chi-square test, independent-samples t-test, or Mann-Whitney U test, with statistical significance defined as p<0.05. RESULTS: The mean age at orchidopexy was 4.8±5.6 years, reflecting an overall trend toward delayed consultation. A subgroup analysis of 185 patients with documented recognition data showed that caregiver-detected cases underwent surgery at a significantly older age than clinician-detected cases (5.08±4.98 vs. 3.57±3.68 years; p=0.020). A sensitivity analysis excluding adult patients confirmed that this difference remained significant within the pediatric cohort (p=0.016). However, most procedures in both groups were performed well beyond the recommended 18-month guideline threshold. CONCLUSION: Delayed orchidopexy remains a prevalent clinical challenge with potential long-term implications for testicular health. Although clinician-led detection significantly improves surgical timing compared with caregiver recognition, systemic improvements in early primary care screening and caregiver awareness are essential to ensure strict adherence to optimal surgical timelines.