Influence of antiseptic lavage during tibial plateau leveling osteotomies on surgical site infection in 1422 dogs

ObjectiveTo determine the influence of preclosure antiseptic versus saline lavage on surgical site infections (SSI) in dogs following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO).Study designA multicenter retrospective study.Sample populationDogs treated with TPLO (n = 1422) between December 2019 and October 2021.MethodsThe medical records of dogs treated with TPLO were reviewed for preclosure antiseptic lavage or saline irrigation. Additional collected data included signalment, unilateral or bilateral TPLO, postoperative administration of antimicrobial medications, antibiotic agent, surgeon, and development of SSI within 90 postoperative days. Eleven factors were analyzed for association with SSI using univariate and multivariate analysis.ResultsData were collected from the records of 519 dogs treated with antiseptic lavage and 903 dogs treated with saline lavage during TPLO. Surgical site infections were diagnosed more frequently in dogs that received preclosure antiseptic lavage (77/519, 14.84%) than those with saline irrigation (80/903, 8.86%) (p = .001). Single session bilateral TPLO increased the odds of SSI by 2.5x (p = .004). The odds of SSI increased by 11% (p = .001) for every 5 kg increase in bodyweight. Postoperative administration of antimicrobials decreased the risk of SSI (p = .008).ConclusionThe preclosure antiseptic lavage tested here did not decrease the incidence of SSI after TPLO.Clinical significanceThe results of this study do not provide evidence to support preclosure antiseptic lavage during TPLOs.