Comparing the Incidence of Surgical Site Infection for Two Different Methods of Post-Operative Self-Trauma Prevention in Dogs Undergoing Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy
Purpose: Compare surgical site infections (SSI) between the Elizabethan collar (EC) and LickSleeve® (LS).
Definition of SSI: Discharge from incision with redness, heat, swelling, discomfort, requiring antibiotics and prolonged protective devices.
Introduction: SSIs increase patient morbidity and costs. Self-trauma at incision sites often causes SSIs. The EC, commonly used to prevent self-trauma, may affect pets' quality of life, potentially reducing owner compliance. The LS offers an alternative protective method.
Objective: Compare SSI incidence at two-week incision recheck. Hypothesis: No difference in SSI incidence between EC and LS.
Methods: Medical records of dogs undergoing tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) from July 2022 to December 2023 were reviewed. Data on signalment, anesthesia time, surgical time, and two-week recheck were collected. Dogs were categorized by post-operative protective device. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism.
Results:
- 183 dogs, 211 TPLOs
- EC: 114 dogs
- LS: 97 dogs
- Infection rates: EC 10.5%, LS 3.1%
- Overall infection rate: 7.1%
Discussion: The overall SSI rate (7.1%) aligns with previous reports. No significant difference in SSI at the two-week recheck (P 0.051), supporting the hypothesis. Study limitations include its retrospective nature and assumed owner compliance. Subjective SSI definition without consistent cultures is another limitation.
Conclusion: The LS is a viable alternative to the EC for TPLO surgery, potentially improving patient comfort.