Usefulness of C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A in early detection of postoperative infectious complications to tibial plateau leveling osteotomy in dogs

Pre- and postsurgical serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP, a) and serum amyloid A (SAA, b) measured in 5 dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture treated surgically by tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). Note the significant increase of serum CRP and SAA concentrations during the first 24 h post-surgery and the tendency to reach baseline levels at day 12 in uncomplicated cases. Note the tendency of higher serum concentrations of CRP and SAA at day 6 in dogs which developed soft tissue infections post operatively (broken lines), while no such increases were observed in dogs with no signs of postsurgical infections (solid lines