Horse Racing

Study: Do Some Castrations Cause Ongoing Pain?


Castration, a routine surgery that can be completed either standing sedated or completely anesthetized laying down, may cause issues for geldings long after the surgical incision has healed. New research suggests that neuromas, a mass of cells and nerves that form on a severed nerve, may be more common than previously thought at the castration site. Though benign, neuromas can be quite painful.

Scientists from the Swedish University of Agricultural Science investigated if unexplained hind-end lameness, back pain, groin pain or behavioral problems could be from neuromas where the testicular nerves were severed or crushed during castration.

Drs. Emma Angelina Bengtsdotter, Stina Ekman and Pia Haubro Andersen collected the remnants of spermatic cords from 20 geldings of various breeds who died from reasons not related to their castration. They then microscopically examined the testicular nerves at the castration site for neuromas.

They discovered neuromas in 21 spermatic cords from 13 geldings. Neuromas in both spermatic cord remnants were found in eight of the geldings. The scientists call for additional research to determine if the certain castration methods promote the formation of neuromas and to determine if the neuromas are painful.

Read more at HorseTalk.

Read the study here here.





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