Mastitis greatly increases the risk of teat fistula surgical repair failure: a retrospective study of 92 lactating dairy cattle (1994-2019).

Postoperative mastitis control is critical for successful teat fistula repair outcomes.

This retrospective case series analyzed 92 lactating dairy cows that underwent surgical repair for teat fistulas between 1994-2019. Fistulas were classified as congenital or acquired (primary chronic or surgery-related). Defects were closed using 2-3 layer techniques with polyglactin 910 or chromic gut sutures. Congenital fistulas had uniformly successful outcomes, while acquired fistulas demonstrated a 40.5% recurrence rate. Binary logistic regression identified postsurgical mastitis as the most significant risk factor for recurrence, increasing odds >16-fold. Holstein cows with surgery-related fistulas had 4.7 times higher recurrence odds compared to those with primary chronic fistulas. The study concludes that successful outcomes depend primarily on infection control rather than closure technique or suture material selection. Prognosis is favorable for congenital but guarded for acquired teat fistulas.

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