Surgical site infection-inflammation in dogs draped with a single-layer Kraton elastic seal extremity drape for stifle surgery.

Objective: To compare the incidence of surgical site infection-inflammation in dogs undergoing elective orthopedic surgery of the stifle after draping with a single-layer Kraton elastic seal patient drape or conventional double-layer drapes.

Study design: Prospective clinical trial.

Sample population: A total of 789 dogs.

Methods: Dogs were assigned to one of two groups: (1) conventional draping with 4-corner drapes and an overlying patient drape (n = 390) or (2) a Kraton seal extremity patient drape without 4-corner drapes (n = 399). All dogs were evaluated for surgical site infection-inflammation by 21 days and 6 months postoperatively.

Results: The distribution of surgical procedures did not differ between draping techniques and included tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA, n = 480), tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO, n = 10), extracapsular lateral suture (ECLS, n = 130), medial patellar luxation repair (MPL, n = 63), lateral patellar luxation repair (LPL, n = 1), ECLS/MPL (n = 68), TTA/MPL (n = 12), TTA with joint capsule biopsy (n = 1), and stifle arthroscopy combined with TTA or TPLO (n = 24). Duration of follow up was 180 days (range 3-180 days) for clinical examinations and 182 days (range 2-182 days) for phone communications. Infection-inflammation was documented in 9 dogs after double-layer draping and 11 dogs after single-layer draping at 21 days postoperatively and in 12 dogs after double-layer draping and 7 dogs after single-layer draping at 6 months postoperatively.

Conclusion: No difference in postoperative infection-inflammation was detected between canine stifle surgeries draped with a single-layer Kraton extremity patient drape or double-layer drapes.

Clinical significance: The single-layer Kraton extremity patient drape is a viable alternative to conventional double-layer draping in canine stifle surgery.