[Hernia and testicular retention in children--which condition should be treated and when?].

Children, and also infants, with groin hernias should be operated as soon as the diagnosis is made. Umbilical hernia, on the other hands, does nearly always heal spontaneously, and operative treatment is rarely indicated. The boy with undescended testicles may perhaps be served best if orchiopexy is performed at two years of age. However, it should be emphasized that it has not yet been proved that this approach is superior to a somewhat later performed operation.