Economic Impact of Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy Surgical Site Infection in Dogs. Issue 8 (11th March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nicoll, Catherine; Singh, Ameet; Weese, J. Scott
• Is Part Of: Veterinary surgery. Volume 43:Issue 8(2014)
• Page Start: 899
• Page End: 902
• Publication Date: 2014-03-11
• Subjects: Veterinary surgery -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; Surgery -- Periodicals; Societies, Medical -- Periodicals; 636.0897
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2014.12175.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0161-3499

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="vsu12175-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To evaluate the economic impact of surgical site infection after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) in dogs.</p> </sec> <sec id="vsu12175-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Study Design</title> <p>Retrospective study</p> </sec> <sec id="vsu12175-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Study Population</title> <p>Dogs that had unilateral TPLO and did (n = 32) or did not (controls; 32) develop a surgical site infection.</p> </sec> <sec id="vsu12175-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Medical and billing records were reviewed to identify postoperative care and costs, which were compared between groups.</p> </sec> <sec id="vsu12175-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Age, weight, gender, and initial surgical costs did not differ between groups. Postoperative costs were higher for dogs that developed SSIs ($1559) than for controls ($212, <italic>P</italic> < .0001), as were number of postoperative recheck visits (<italic>P</italic> < .0001) and time until final case closure (<italic>P</italic> = .0002). Dogs with surgical site infection (SSI) returned for a mean (±SD) 4.1 ± 2.9 (range, 1–13) postoperative visits attributable to SSI management: mean outpatient visits 3.0 ± 2.5; mean inpatient stays, 1.2 ± 0.74; and mean hospitalization, 4.3 ± 4.1 days. Postoperative costs attributable to SSI management ranged from $145 to $5022. Implants were removed in 22 (69%) dogs with SSIs. Bacteria were isolated from the surgical site or implant of 23 (72%) dogs with SSIs. There was a significant difference in cost when bacteria were isolated ($1836 versus $853, <italic>P</italic> = .002), but no impacts on likelihood of implant removal (16/23, 70% versus 6/9, 67%, <italic>P</italic> = 0.87). <italic>Staphylococcus pseudintermedius</italic> was predominant.</p> </sec> <sec id="vsu12175-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>SSI after TPLO are associated with a significant cost. These data help quantify those costs, to facilitate a greater understanding of the impact of SSI, and the need for infection control.</p> </sec> </abstract>