About 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, 2017Master of Science, Colorado State University, 2013Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2009Bachelor of Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2003
Certifications
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Publications
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.70060Nelson, 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.25869Nelson, 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.13468Koch, 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-22-4886McCready, 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/10.1177/19476035221081465Bisazza, 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/jbm4.10807Nelson, 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.24894
Research Specialty
Minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery and fracture repairAdvanced imaging (CT and MRI) and computer assisted surgery Translational orthopedic surgery Orthopedic spine surgery