正常的腎臟位置，從臥姿變為立姿時的下移距離，通常在2.5cm左右，此距離超過5cm時，則被視為腎下垂。它最常見的症狀是腰痛或合併下腹痛。常發生在累或久站之後，必須臥床休息才能使症狀消除，這是由於腎下垂造成腎臟的神經血管根過度拉緊，以及輸尿管扭曲，致使尿流不暢引起腎臟腫脹。以手術治療腎下垂的目的，在於永久解除疼痛，並且阻止腎機能之繼續損害。本研究材料為自1982年至1989年間，17個接受手術治療腎下垂病例，此17個病例皆有顯著的腰痛或合併下腹痛，理學檢查發現立姿時腎臟可觸摸。此17個病例皆為女性，年齡分布從20歲到53，其中9例的年齡在21歲至30歲之間，尿路攝影上的腎下垂距離，最短為5cm，最長者為9.6cm，平均為6.5cm。14例接受右側腎固定術。從手術切口來看，18個腎臟經由腰部切口行固定術，1例經由腰背部切口行之。術後，15例的疼痛完全解除，其餘2例在短期內有偶發的傷口微痛。手術後的尿路攝影顯示，全部的腎下垂皆獲得校正。本報告中，謹慎選擇症狀嚴重且有輸尿管扭曲等結構異常的患者作手術治療，結果令人滿意。

Seventeen female patients who suffered from symptomatic nephroptosis were treat-ed surgically from January 1982 to January 1989. All of the patients were found to have palpable kidney on erect position. Incapacitating flank and/or lower abdominal pains were the prominent complaints. From excretory urogram with standing film, the average distance of excursion of the effected kidney was 6.5cm (range: 5.0 to 9.6cm). Kelly's method of nephropexy were performed on these patients. Fourteen patients were operated on the right kidney, two patients on both sides and only one patients on the left side. Eighteen ptotic kidneys were fixed via flank incision, only one case through lumbodorsal approach. Postoperatively, all of these patients were relieved of symptoms, and the surgically fixed kidneys gained their normal positions by follow-up x-rays. Nephropexy affords satisfactory treatment to the well selected patients who suffer from symptomatic nephroptosis. (J Urol R.O.C., 2:447-451, 1991)