Brad Nelson
Associate Professor Clinical SciencesAbout Brad
Dr. Nelson is an associate professor of equine surgery at the Johnson Family Equine Hospital and Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University. He is a principal investigator within the Orthopaedic Research Center and Preclinical Surgical Research Laboratory, where he uses his equine surgical knowledge of detecting and treating orthopedic injury to advance and improve outcomes in horses, while also contributing translational knowledge towards humans per the concept of One Health. Dr. Nelson's research interests are focused on developing and improving imaging and surgical techniques, with particular focus on articular cartilage repair and osteoarthritis.
Education
Ph.D., Colorado State University, 2017 Master of Science, Colorado State University, 2013 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2009 Bachelor of Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2003Certifications
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary SurgeonsPublications
O'Brien, T. J., Johnson, J. W., Kawcak, C. E., Gadomski, B. C., Carpenter, R. S., & Nelson, B. B. (2025). Biomechanical comparison of the bone-screw-fastener to conventional cortical buttress screw in a simulated ex vivo model of equine midbody proximal sesamoid bone fracture repair. Veterinary Surgery. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.70060 Nelson, B. B., Mäkelä, J. T. A., Lawson, T. B., Patwa, A. N., Snyder, B. D., Grinstaff, M. W., McIlwraith, C. W., Seabaugh, K. A., Barrett, M. F., Goodrich, L. R., & Kawcak, C. E. (2024). Longitudinal in vivo cationic contrast-enhanced computed tomography classifies equine articular cartilage injury and repair. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.25869 Nelson, B. B., Lawless, S. P., & McIlwraith, C. W. (2022). Slab fractures of the third carpal bone involving both radial and intermediate facets and outcomes after surgical repair in racing Quarter Horses. Equine Veterinary Journal, 54(3), 556–562. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13468 Koch, D. W., Johnson, J. W., Smith, Q. E., Brekhus, C., Gadomski, B. C., Palmer, R. H., Easley, J. T., & Nelson, B. B. (2023). Biomechanical evaluation of interlocking nail and locking compression plating for stabilization of ovine critical-sized segmental tibia defects. Annals of Translational Medicine, 11(6), 258. https://doi.org/10.21037/atm-22-4886 McCready, E., Easley, J. T., Risch, M., Troyer, K. L., Johnson, J. W., Gadomski, B. C., McGilvray, K. C., Kisiday, J. D., & Nelson, B. B. (2022). Biomechanical, morphological, and biochemical characteristics of articular cartilage of the ovine humeral head. Cartilage, 13(1), 19476035221081465. https://doi.org/10.1177/19476035221081465 Bisazza, K. T., Nelson, B. B., Sikes, K. J., Nakamura, L., & Easley, J. T. (2023). Computed tomography provides improved quantification of trabecular lumbar spine bone loss compared to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in ovariectomized sheep. JBMR Plus, 7(12), e10807. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm4.10807 Nelson, B. B., Mäkelä, J. T. A., Lawson, T. B., Patwa, A. N., Snyder, B. D., McIlwraith, C. W., Grinstaff, M. W., Goodrich, L. R., & Kawcak, C. E. (2021). Cationic contrast-enhanced computed tomography distinguishes between reparative, degenerative, and healthy equine articular cartilage. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 39(8), 1647–1657. https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.24894Research Specialty
Minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery and fracture repair
Advanced imaging (CT and MRI) and computer assisted surgery
Translational orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic spine surgery