title: Risk factors and clinical relevance of positive intraoperative bacterial cultures in dogs with total hip replacement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report incidence and relevance of positive intraoperative total hip replacement (THR) bacterial cultures taken at the time of surgical closure in dogs having unilateral THR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs (n = 100) with cemented (CFX), cementless (BFX), or hybrid THR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records (January 2007-March 2010) of dogs that had THR were reviewed. Signalment, type and side of THR, concurrent surgery, operative and anesthetic times, intraoperative coxofemoral closing (CC) bacterial culture results, organism cultured, duration of postoperative antibiotic administration, physical examination findings at 3 weeks, 3 months, and at 6 months to 1 year after surgery, radiographic findings at 3 months and between 6 months and 1 year after surgery, and incidence of complications were retrieved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in duration of surgery between CC culture negative and CC culture positive groups (103.27 minutes versus 122.50 minutes, respectively, P < .038) and in total anesthetic time between CC culture negative and culture positive groups (165.20 minutes versus 189.50 minutes, respectively, P < .038). There was no significant difference between CC culture negative and culture positive groups for median age (30 months versus 39 months, respectively, P < .75), median weight (36.91 kg versus 35.68 kg, respectively, P < .61), median clinical signs (4 months versus 3.5 months, respectively, P < .65), sex (males 44.32% versus females 25.00%, respectively, P < .20), laterality (left 55.68% versus right 50.00%, respectively, P < .71), concurrent surgery (extracapsular lateral imbrication/medial patella luxation/lateral patella luxation [ECLI/MPL/LPL] 22.73% versus none 25.00%, respectively, P < 1.00), and THR type (hybrid 17.05% versus 25.00% respectively; CFX 60.23% versus 75.0%; BFX 22.73% versus 0.0%; Fisher's exact test P < .17).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical and anesthetic duration were significantly associated with positive CC culture results. Positive CC culture results were not associated with adverse results at 3 months and at 6-month to 1-year follow-up evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Long Island Veterinary Specialists, Plainview, NY 11803, USA.
authors.forename: Shadi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ireifej
authors.forename: Dominic J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Loughin
authors.forename: Martin L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lesser
authors.forename: Meredith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akerman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000662:veterinary*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary