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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2013; 26(04): 260-265
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-11-12-0177
Original Research
Schattauer GmbH

Outcome following removal of TPLO implants with surgical site infection

R. Savicky
1   VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center of Westbury, Westbury, New York, USA
,
B. Beale
2   Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, Houston, Texas, USA
,
R. Murtaugh
3   VCA All-Care Animal Referral Center, Fountain Valley, California, USA
,
J. Swiderski-Hazlett
4   Animal Emergency & Specialty Center, Parker, Colorado, USA
,
M. Unis
3   VCA All-Care Animal Referral Center, Fountain Valley, California, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 16 December 2011

Accepted 12 January 2013

Publication Date:
19 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Objective To evaluate the outcome of surgical site infection (SSI) associated with tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) implants following treatment by medical management alone or implant removal with or without the administration of antibiotic medication.

Animals Ninety dogs (104 TPLO surgical procedures).

Methods Records of dogs that had undergone TPLO implant removal due to SSI were reviewed. Outcome following treatment with antibiotic medications without implant removal, and treatment with implant removal with and without the administration of antibiotic medications was evaluated.

Results Treatment of SSI with antibiotic medication alone failed in 88.9% (64/72) of the dogs. The clinical signs of SSI resolved in 94.9% (74/78) of the dogs treated with implant removal (with and without the administration of antibiotic medication postimplant removal). The effect of administration of antibiotic medication on outcome of treatment of the SSI by implant removal was not significant. The rate of SSI associated with the Synthes implant was higher than with the Slocum implant, but not the New Generation implant.

Conclusion Implant removal with or without the administration of antibiotic medication post-implant removal for treatment of TPLO SSI provided superior outcome compared to treatment with antibiotic medications without implant removal.

Clinical significance Implant removal should be considered for TPLO SSI that have not responded to appropriate medical management. Further investigation of the various TPLO implants and their effects on postoperative infection rate is warranted.

Keywords

TPLO - tibial plateau levelling osteotomy - infection - implant removal - antibiotic - complication
 

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