title: Short-term wound complications and predictive variables for complication after limb amputation in dogs and cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify short-term wound complications and associated predictive factors following amputation in dogs and cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of case records of dogs and cats undergoing thoracic or pelvic limb amputation. Preoperative data on signalment, body weight, limb amputated, reason for amputation and laboratory parameters were collected. Details regarding surgical procedures and use of anaesthesia such as total surgical and anaesthesia times, incidences of intraoperative hypotension or hypothermia, method of muscle excision and type of skin closure utilized were recorded. Postoperative data on duration of hospital stay, use of postoperative antibiotics, use of a wound soaker catheter, wound complications noted both during hospitalization and at recheck and treatments if applicable were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 67 records were identified including 39 dogs and 28 cats. Wound infection/inflammation complications occurred in 20.9% of cases and wound infection complications in 9%; 12.8% in dogs and 3.6% in cats. One (1.5%) complication was classified as major, which occurred immediately postoperatively. Nine (13.4%) minor complications occurred immediately after surgery and four (6.0%) were identified at recheck. Age was the only significant predictor of postoperative infection/inflammation following pelvic or thoracic limb amputation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term wound complications following pelvic or thoracic limb amputation in cats and dogs were typically minor and resolved after treatment.
authors.affiliation: The Animal Medical Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raske
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: McClaran
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mariano
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*