Short-Term Outcomes After Orchiopexy for Undescended Testes at two Public Hospitals in Ethiopia: A Prospective Cohort Study.
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BACKGROUND: Undescended testis (UDT) is the most common congenital genital anomaly in male children. Although orchiopexy is recommended within the first year of life to optimize testicular function and reduce the risk of malignancy, delayed surgical correction remains common in low-resource settings. Evidence on short-term postoperative outcomes in such contexts is limited. This study assessed the incidence and predictors of short-term complications following orchiopexy for UDT. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted at two Ethiopian public hospitals from April 2023 to October 2024. Boys undergoing orchiopexy were followed for six months postoperatively. Sociodemographic, clinical, and perioperative data were collected using a structured tool. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of postoperative complications. Analysis was conducted using Stata version 17, and results were reported as adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI); statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 134 patients were included. The median age at presentation was 2 years, indicating delayed presentation in most cases. The incidence of short-term postoperative complications was 14.3%. On multivariable analysis, age at surgery >2 years (AOR = 6.85, 95% CI: 1.21-38.60), small intraoperative testicular size (AOR = 4.95, 95% CI: 1.78-13.73), and high testicular position at or above the deep inguinal ring (AOR = 4.07, 95% CI: 1.37-12.07) were independent predictors of postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Delayed orchiopexy and adverse testicular characteristics are associated with increased short-term postoperative complications. These findings emphasize the need for early diagnosis, timely referral, and improved access to pediatric surgical services in resource-limited settings. Longer follow-up studies are warranted to assess long-term outcomes.