Research Article

Time-Dependent Evaluation of Surgical Site Infections in Orthopedic Operations: A Prospective Study

Volume: 14 Number: 2 December 24, 2025
TR EN

Time-Dependent Evaluation of Surgical Site Infections in Orthopedic Operations: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain a major concern in veterinary orthopedics, increasing morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Prolonged operative time is recognized as a significant risk factor for intraoperative contamination. This prospective study aimed to evaluate the time-dependent pattern of bacterial contamination during feline long bone osteosynthesis and to determine its association with operative duration. Ninety-two cats undergoing osteosynthesis for humeral, radial-ulnar, femoral, or tibial fractures were included. Standardized anesthetic and aseptic protocols were applied in all cases. Sterile swab samples were collected from the surgical site at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 minutes after exposure of the fracture site. Samples were cultured on tryptic soy agar and MacConkey agar, and colony-forming units were counted. No bacterial growth was detected at 0–30 minutes. Culture positivity rates were 2.2% at 45 minutes, 16.3% at 60 minutes, 35.3% at 75 minutes, and 66.7% at 90 minutes. Fisher’s Exact and Cochran-Armitage trend tests confirmed a statistically significant increase in contamination rates after 45 minutes (p < 0.05). Notably, cases with severe soft tissue trauma and subcutaneous hematoma, even without skin disruption, exhibited higher contamination rates and developed postoperative SSIs more frequently. These results highlight operative time as a critical factor influencing intraoperative contamination in feline orthopedics and emphasize the importance of minimizing unnecessary surgical delays, maintaining strict aseptic discipline, and considering prophylactic strategies for prolonged surgeries.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye

Project Number

1919B012336006

Ethical Statement

The experimental protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of Animal Experiments at Dicle University Health Sciences Application and Research Center (28/08/2025-09-09).

Thanks

This study was supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK-BİDEB, 2209-A, 2023-2nd Term, Project No: 1919B012336006).

References

  1. Allegranzi B, Bischoff P, De Jonge S, Kubilay NZ, Zayed B, Gomes SM, et al., 2016: New WHO recommendations on preoperative measures for surgical site infection prevention: an evidence-based global perspective. Lancet Infect Dis, 16 (12), e276-e287.
  2. Al-Mulhim FA, Baragbah MA, Sadat-Ali M, Alomran AS, Azam MQ, 2014: Prevalence of surgical site infection in orthopedic surgery: a 5-year analysis. Int Surg, 99 (3), 264-268.
  3. Candela Andrade M, Slunsky P, Pagel T, De Rus Aznar I, Brunnberg M, Brunnberg L, 2024: Microbial colonization of explants after osteosynthesis in small animals: incidence and influencing factors. Vet Sci, 11 (5), 221.
  4. Cerullo A, Di Nicola MR, Scilimati N, Bertoletti A, Pollicino G, Moroni B, et al., 2025: Intra- and post-operative bacteriological surveys of surgical site in horses: a single-centre study. Microorganisms, 13 (4), 928.
  5. Chadhary SM, Desai RP, Pandya JV, 2025: Assessment of surgical site infections and their risk factors in abdominal surgeries. Eur J Cardiovasc Med, 15, 227-230.
  6. Fossum TW, 2018: Small Animal Surgery. 5th ed., Elsevier Health Sciences, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
  7. Fuertes-Recuero M, Penelo S, Suarez-Redondo M, Eceiza-Zubicaray A, Arenillas M, Valdivia G, et al., 2025: Incidence and risk factors of surgical site infection in 376 mastectomy procedures in female dogs: a retrospective cohort study. Vet Sci, 12 (6), 553.
  8. Gulaydin A, Gulaydin O, Akgul MB, 2024: Isolation of aerobic bacteria from surgical site infections following orthopaedic operations in cats and dogs. Vet Med Czech, 69 (7), 243.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Veterinary Surgery

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 24, 2025

Submission Date

September 13, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 22, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 14 Number: 2

APA
Saylak, N., Karacan Sever, N., & Yilmaz, E. E. (2025). Time-Dependent Evaluation of Surgical Site Infections in Orthopedic Operations: A Prospective Study. Harran University Journal of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 14(2), 157-162. https://doi.org/10.31196/huvfd.1783378
AMA
1.Saylak N, Karacan Sever N, Yilmaz EE. Time-Dependent Evaluation of Surgical Site Infections in Orthopedic Operations: A Prospective Study. Harran Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2025;14(2):157-162. doi:10.31196/huvfd.1783378
Chicago
Saylak, Nahit, Nurdan Karacan Sever, and Elif Evrim Yilmaz. 2025. “Time-Dependent Evaluation of Surgical Site Infections in Orthopedic Operations: A Prospective Study”. Harran University Journal of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 14 (2): 157-62. https://doi.org/10.31196/huvfd.1783378.
EndNote
Saylak N, Karacan Sever N, Yilmaz EE (December 1, 2025) Time-Dependent Evaluation of Surgical Site Infections in Orthopedic Operations: A Prospective Study. Harran University Journal of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 14 2 157–162.
IEEE
[1]N. Saylak, N. Karacan Sever, and E. E. Yilmaz, “Time-Dependent Evaluation of Surgical Site Infections in Orthopedic Operations: A Prospective Study”, Harran Univ Vet Fak Derg, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 157–162, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.31196/huvfd.1783378.
ISNAD
Saylak, Nahit - Karacan Sever, Nurdan - Yilmaz, Elif Evrim. “Time-Dependent Evaluation of Surgical Site Infections in Orthopedic Operations: A Prospective Study”. Harran University Journal of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 14/2 (December 1, 2025): 157-162. https://doi.org/10.31196/huvfd.1783378.
JAMA
1.Saylak N, Karacan Sever N, Yilmaz EE. Time-Dependent Evaluation of Surgical Site Infections in Orthopedic Operations: A Prospective Study. Harran Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2025;14:157–162.
MLA
Saylak, Nahit, et al. “Time-Dependent Evaluation of Surgical Site Infections in Orthopedic Operations: A Prospective Study”. Harran University Journal of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, vol. 14, no. 2, Dec. 2025, pp. 157-62, doi:10.31196/huvfd.1783378.
Vancouver
1.Nahit Saylak, Nurdan Karacan Sever, Elif Evrim Yilmaz. Time-Dependent Evaluation of Surgical Site Infections in Orthopedic Operations: A Prospective Study. Harran Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2025 Dec. 1;14(2):157-62. doi:10.31196/huvfd.1783378