Effect of surgical site infection on survival after limb amputation in the curative-intent treatment of canine appendicular osteosarcoma: a Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology retrospective study

Abstract

Objective: To determine the influence of surgical site infection (SSI) on the median disease-free interval (DFI) and median survival time (MST) in dogs after amputation in the curative-intent treatment of appendicular osteosarcoma (OSA). Study design: Multi-institutional retrospective cohort study. Animals: Fifteen dogs with OSA and SSI, and 134 dogs with OSA and no SSI. Methods: Medical records were reviewed, and dogs were included if the following criteria were met: histologic confirmation of OSA, no evidence of metastasis, ≥1 chemotherapy treatment, and available follow-up data. We used the definition of SSI from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kaplan-Meier estimates of median DFI and MST for the SSI and non-SSI groups were compared by log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was evaluated for associations with DFI and survival. Results: The median DFI and MST of all OSA dogs were 236 days (95% CI, 181-283) and 283 days (95% CI 237-355), respectively. The median DFI of dogs with SSI (292 days) did not differ from that of dogs without SSI (224 days, P =.156). The MST of dogs with SSI (292 days) did not differ from that of dogs without SSI (280 days, P =.417). Failure to complete chemotherapy was associated with decreased DFI and survival (P