A 10-Year Retrospective Single-Center Study: Are Children With Cryptorchidism Operated On at the Recommended Age?

Background and aim Spontaneous testicular descent after six months of age is uncommon, underscoring the importance of timely evaluation and surgical management of persistent cryptorchidism. This study aimed to evaluate the timing of surgical treatment for cryptorchidism at a tertiary pediatric surgical center in Athens, Greece, over a 10-year period and to assess adherence to contemporary recommendations for the timing of orchiopexy. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 544 children who underwent surgical treatment for cryptorchidism during a 10-year period from January 2015 to December 2024. Patients were classified according to age at surgery into three groups: Group 1, ≤12 months; Group 2, 13-24 months; and Group 3, >24 months. Age at surgery, laterality, and operative approach were recorded. Results The mean age at surgery was 2.8 years. Right-sided cryptorchidism was present in 256 patients (47.1%), left-sided cryptorchidism in 196 (36%), and bilateral cryptorchidism in 92 (16.9%). Group 1 included 114 children (21%), Group 2 included 152 (27.9%), and Group 3 included 278 (51.1%). Nineteen patients (3.5%) underwent laparoscopic surgery because of an intra-abdominal testicular location. Conclusions Although the timing of orchiopexy appears to have improved compared with previous institutional experience, delayed treatment remains common. Only 21% of children underwent surgery during the first year of life, while 51.1% were treated after two years of age. These observations raise the possibility that delayed orchiopexy may represent a broader challenge within the Greek healthcare setting. Improved early recognition, timely referral, and closer adherence to guideline recommendations are warranted.