Billas et al: Incidence of and risk factors for surgical site infection following canine limb amputation
Veterinary Surgery 3, 2022

🔍 Key Findings

• 12.5% overall incidence of SSI after limb amputation, and 10.9% for clean procedures.
• Bipolar vessel sealing device use for muscle transection significantly increased SSI risk (OR 2.5; P = .023).
• Monopolar electrosurgery and sharp transection were not associated with increased SSI risk.
• Non-clean wound classification increased SSI odds (OR 8.2; P = .003).
• Amputation for infection (OR 5.7) or trauma (OR 4.5) significantly increased SSI risk compared to neoplasia.
• Preoperative infections at distant sites did not significantly increase SSI risk.
• Neither surgery/anesthesia duration, hypothermia, hypotension, nor skin closure method significantly affected SSI risk.
• Study supports avoiding bipolar sealing devices for muscle transection in limb amputations to reduce SSI risk.