Incidence of post-operative infection and the factors associated with surgical outcomes in 25 dogs and 13 cats with open fracture

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to identify the incidence of postoperative infection and to find the factors that related to the surgical outcome in dogs and cats with open fractures. Twenty-five dogs and 13 cats were diagnosed with open fracture and were underwent orthopedic surgery. The study was prospectively assessed at the Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Chiang Mai University, Thailand during May to November 2016. The data of age, sex, body condition score, breed, etiology of open fracture, affected bone, location of fracture, open fracture classification (Grade I, II, III), housing, surgery techniques, duration of accident until surgery, duration after surgery until patient can weight baring on the affected limb were reviewed. Out of 35 patients (62.8%), there were 17 dogs and five cats successfully treating without major complications. The post-operative infection had diagnosed in eight patients (22.86%). Three cats with grade III open fracture had positive Feline leukemia virus (FeLV), sudden leukopenia and were died postoperatively. Using IM pin and its combination in open fractured dogs had 15 times risk of unsuccessful result than using external skeleton fixation technique (p<0.03). Cat with body condition score (BCS) three from five had 24 times risk of unsuccessful result than cat with underweight (2/5 BCS) (p<0.04). In conclusion, application IM pin and its combination are not recommended in all open fracture cases. Cats with underweight (2/5 BCS) had higher success than the ideal one (3/5 BCS). Due to the poor outcome of FeLV, the feline viral infection screening test must be performed in all cats.