Nip a Bone Spur in the Bud?

Can bone spurs be surgically removed, as in osteochondritis dissecans cases?
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Q. I recently bought an expensive 8-year-old hunter-jumper that was radiographed at purchase. He was an excellent junior show horse and is already proven. He vetted sound. However, I sent his X rays to a second vet for interpretation because the horse always pinned his ears over a jump. A small (early) bone spur (a sharp bony projection at the joint margin) was discovered. The veterinarian said it likely would develop ringbone in years.

My question is: can bone spurs be surgically removed, as in osteochondritis dissecans (OCD, a cartilage disorder characterized by large flaps of cartilage or loose cartilaginous bodies within a joint) cases? If not, is there something that can be done?     Thea, via e-mail


A. You raise several important issues. One is the degree of predictability that this radiographic finding ("small, early bone spur") is "likely" to develop "years" later. Perhaps a more realistic interpretation would be to describe its proximity to a joint surface and, based on this, identify it as a possible–rather than probable–future lameness risk factor.

I also assume that the conclusion that a bone spur is present is accurate. Because of the normal curvatures in the upper borders of the pastern and coffin bones, accurate placement of the X ray beam is essential to avoid radiographic artifacts, including the appearance of a "small spur." In this case, this might explain why the first doctor did not report the same finding

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Harry W. Werner, VMD, is a Connecticut equine practitioner with special interests in lameness, purchase examinations, wellness care, and owner education. Dedicated staff, continuing education and technological advances enable his practice to offer high-quality patient care and client service in a smaller, general equine practice environment. A committed AAEP member since 1979, Dr. Werner is has served as AAEP Vice President and, in 2009, as AAEP President, and he is a past president of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association.

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