title: Perioperative risk factors for surgical site infection in tibial tuberosity advancement: 224 stifles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine perioperative factors affecting surgical site infection (SSI) rate following tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.affiliation: Ignacio Calvo, DECVS, Fitzpatrick Referrals, Halfway Lane, Eashing, Godalming,, Surrey GU7 2QQ, United Kingdom, E-mail: nachoC@fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Parkin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: TTA; Tibial tuberosity advancement; canine cruciate ligament; prophylactic antimicrobial therapy; surgical site infection