Objective: To report the rate of postoperative septic arthritis following elective diagnostic and surgical arthroscopy in small animals within a clinical setting.
Methods: A retrospective case review from the case log of one veterinary surgeon.
Results: Of the 353 procedures included, performed on 305 animals, there were three cases of postoperative sepsis (0.85%).
Clinical significance: Interventional arthroscopy including both diagnostic and surgical arthroscopy in small animals is a safe technique and poses a risk of postoperative sepsis of approximately 1%.
© 2011 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.