Summary
Objective: To examine perioperative factors affecting surgical site infection (SSI) rate following
tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA).
Study design: Retrospective case series.
Sample population: 224 stifles in 186 dogs.
Methods: Medical records of dogs that underwent TTA in a single institution were reviewed.
Information on signalment anaesthetic and surgical parameters, as well as occurrence
of SSI was recorded. Dogs were followed for a minimum of three months postoperatively.
The association between perioperative factors and SSI was assessed using
Chi-squared tests and binary logistic regression.
Results: The prevalence of SSI was 5.3% (12/224 TTA). Surgical time (p = 0.02) and anaesthesia
time (p = 0.03) were significantly associated with SSI. For every minute increase
in surgical time and anaesthesia time, the likelihood of developing SSI increased
by seven percent and four percent respectively. The use of postoperative antimicrobial
therapy was not significantly associated with lower SSI (p = 0.719). Implants were
removed in 1.3% of cases (3/224 TTA).
Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that increased surgical and anaesthesia times
are significant risk factors for SSI in TTA, and that there is no evidence that postoperative
prophylactic antimicrobial therapy is associated with SSI rate.
Keywords
Tibial tuberosity advancement - TTA - canine cruciate ligament - surgical site infection
- prophylactic antimicrobial therapy