Do Horses with Osteochondral Lesions Always Need Surgery?

Osteochondral lesions on young horses’ X rays might appear worrisome, but surgery isn’t always necessary.
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Osteochondral lesions that show up on young horses’ radiographs might appear worrisome, but the veterinarian behind a recent research review concluded that surgery isn’t always necessary, or even recommended. And in many cases the worry isn’t necessary either.

“I see far too many situations of positive radiographs meaning a flunked prepurchase exam in a sound horse,” said C. Wayne McIlwraith, BVSc, PhD, DSc, FRCVS, Dipl. ACVS, Dipl. ACVSMR, director of the Orthopaedic Research Center at Colorado State University. “Osteochondrosis defects are not the biggest thing we have to worry about in young horses.”

Often, osteochondral lesions will resolve on their own or with conservative treatment such as reduced work load, he said. But some osteochondral lesions do require surgical intervention to prevent compromised soundness and performance.

McIlwraith recently investigated the outcomes of surgical and nonsurgical care of various osteochondral lesions in a research review

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Passionate about horses and science from the time she was riding her first Shetland Pony in Texas, Christa Lesté-Lasserre writes about scientific research that contributes to a better understanding of all equids. After undergrad studies in science, journalism, and literature, she received a master’s degree in creative writing. Now based in France, she aims to present the most fascinating aspect of equine science: the story it creates. Follow Lesté-Lasserre on Twitter @christalestelas.

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