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 (Vol 47, Pg E88, 2018)

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 < .001). Adjustments for chemotherapy completion found no effect of SSI on survival. Conclusion: SSI did not influence the survival of dogs with appendicular OSA treated with amputation and curative-intent treatment. Clinical significance: The extended survival associated with SSI after limb-spare surgery for OSA does not appear to be present after amputation. Interactions between the canine immune system and OSA warrant additional study.