THOMAS ANNANDALE AND THE FIRST REPORT OF SUCCESSFUL ORCHIOPEXY

ABSTRACT 

Purpose:

We investigate the surgeon and factors behind the first report of successful orchiopexy.

Materials and Methods:

We reviewed the first reports of orchiopexy, and the work and writings concerning Thomas Annandale and the time in which he practiced.

Results:

Annandale was a surgeon in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the late 19th century. In 1877 he successfully brought down an ectopic testicle in a 3-year-old boy. This first reported successful orchiopexy was due in large part to Lister’s antiseptic technique.

Conclusions:

Annandale performed the first successful orchiopexy by integrating the surgical and antiseptic ideas of his predecessors and contemporaries.

Key Words::  cryptorchidism , testis , scrotum , urologic surgical procedures, male , urogenital surgical procedures