Bacterial Culturing for Prediction of Postoperative Complications Following Open Fracture Repair in Small Animals

Swab specimens for bacterial culturing were obtained from 82 consecutive dogs and 13 cats undergoing open reduction and internal fixation of 110 fractures. Bacteria were isolated from 51 wounds. When the data were analyzed by stepwise logistic regression, it was found that bacterial contamination of wounds was associated most often with open fractures and with tibia or radius/ulna fractures. Contaminated wounds were five times more likely to develop complications than those without bacterial contamination. Regardless of results of bacterial culturing, postoperative complications developed significantly more often in animals that were febrile (>39.4° C [103° F]). Postoperative complications did not develop in animals that did not have bacterial contamination of wounds and were not febrile.