This is an elective surgical condition.

This guideline has not yet had a GP working group review.  We appreciate your  feedback.

See resources for referral form, parent information and more.

Assessment and when to refer

History and physical examination

Growth of undescended testes is impaired due to higher temperature in the groin. The increased risk of malignancy has not been proven in undescended testes that reach the level of the groin (there appears to be a slight increased risk of malignancy for intra-abdominal testis).

• Diagnostic imaging has no role in the management of undescended testes.
• No surgery is required.
• Retractile testis is defined as a testis of normal size that reaches the bottom of the scrotum without tension.
• Diagnostic imaging had no role in the management of undescended testes.
• Retractile testis is defined as a testis of normal size that reaches the bottom of the scrotom without tension.
• Non-urgent referral for General Surgery review is recommended at about 6 months if the testes are not fully descended by 3 months - will most likely require surgery.
• Orchidopexy is performed from about 9 months.
• Retractile testis require non-urgent referral as a small percentage may become truly undescended over time.
• Please provide history and any investigations undertaken.

Contact information

For clinical advice call RCH Switchboard tel (03) 9345 5522 and ask for:

• General surgery registrar or fellow on-call
• Department of General Surgery - clinical advice
• Emergency Department - for clinical advice after hours

For outpatient bookings

• Fax to 03 9345 5034 (number also on referral form)
• For urgent appointments please also call 03 9345 6180
• For private referrals see Paediatrician Listing for private surgeon contact details.

Admission enquiries call RCH Switchboard tel (03) 9345 5522 and ask for:

• General admission enquiries (or direct dial 03 9345 6172)
• ED admission enquiries: (or direct dial 03 9345 6477)

• RCH OPD referral form (word)
• Generic parent handout (about RCH pre-referral guidelines)
• Kids Health Info - parent information website
• Kids Connect (Primary Care Liaison) www.rch.org.au/kidsconnect
  OPD resources for GPs page contains all referral forms, clinic information, referral process information, other pre-referral guidelines, MBS Enhanced Primary Care Items and parent information.
• Paediatric Pharmacopoeia

References

Urgent paediatric surgical conditions - management guidelines by Tom Clarnette MBBS, MD, FRACS (Paeds). Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, RCH, Melbourne, Australia.

Feedback

Please give feedback on this guideline - kids.connect@rch.org.au / telephone: (03) 9345 5246 

Thanks to Consultant Paediatric Surgeon Tom Clarnette for permission to adapt existing guidelines.   Many thanks to the GPs involved in the review.  First published Dec 2007. Please read Copyright and Disclaimer.