Purpose: The literature was reviewed to consolidate the diverse success rates reported for orchiopexy.
Materials and methods: A total of 64 articles pertaining to 8,425 undescended testicles was reviewed and found to contain evaluable data. Success was defined as scrotal position and lack of atrophy.
Results: Success rates by anatomical testicular position were 74% for abdominal, 82% for peeping and 87% for canalicular testes, and 92% for those located beyond the external ring. Success rates by procedure were 89% for inguinal, 67% for Fowler-Stephens, 77% for staged Fowler-Stephens, 81% for transabdominal, 73% for 2-stage and 84% for microvascular orchiopexy.
Conclusions: The significant failure rate for proximal testes suggests that efforts to improve orchiopexy should continue.