EVMC Provides Treatment Approach For Rare Skeletal Disease In Horses

A former intern at the Equine Veterinary Medical Center has had research published in Veterinary Surgery, a world-renowned scientific journal. The study, which was conducted at the Qatar Foundation entity, offers a new treatment avenue to horses and equine surgeons facing a rare skeletal condition.

Dr. Machiel Ysebaert was an intern at  Equine Veterinary Medical Center (EVMC) from 2019-2020 and took part in a 12-month post-graduate veterinary teaching program dedicated to young veterinarians with a desire to specialize in equine diagnostics and therapeutics. The program saw six interns from Belgium, Pakistan, Portugal, France, and Qatar undertake the intense training.

Dr. Ysebaert and the EVMC surgical team, which was led by Dr. Florent David, Head of  the Surgery and Sports Medicine service at EVMC, were presented with a rare case of a benign bone tumor interfering with the navicular bone, located close to the foot. The latest diagnostic imaging technologies were used to assess the foal and identify the clinical condition. Utilizing advanced surgical techniques and equipment, the team was able to successfully remove, by arthroscopy, the bone and cartilage overgrowth using a new approach.

Supported by the EVMC team, and in collaboration with Al Shaqab Breeding and Show Department, the paper was co-authored by Dr. Jessica Johnson, Equine Surgeon; Dr. Ghazanfar Abbas, Intern; Mr. Rodney King, Master Farrier; Dr. Masa Oikawa, Pathologist; and Dr. Sarah Puchalski, Off Site Equine Radiologist.

Dr. David said: “Combining a high level of clinical skills, we have been able to not only save this foal but to give it a true chance to have a completely normal life after surgery. This is EVMC’s primary role and I cannot be happier to have been able to offer this level of expertise in Qatar in such record-time – EVMC only opened its door in the second half of 2018. Our secondary role is to disseminate what we do best. Now, equine surgeons around the world, facing this same condition, should be able to offer their clients a surgical option leading to a fantastic outcome by accessing our publication.

“I want to say I am extremely proud of Dr. Machiel Ysebaert for this achievement. He is a young, highly focused, and skilled veterinarian, full of energy and motivation.  EVMC’s clinical team were able to mentor him through the process of preparing and submitting his first clinical research manuscript for a publication in a peer-review scientific journal.

“By setting high expectations in this internship program, we are able to get the best out of our interns and yet again project EVMC, Al Shaqab, and Qatar Foundation onto the international scene. Guiding our interns successfully through our rigorous internship program produces world-class equine veterinarians who act as great ambassadors of EVMC abroad,” said Dr. David.

EVMC internships are offered at EVMC annually and are a one-year educational program where young veterinarians are provided with a broad exposure to equine veterinary medicine. Interns rotate through different services, including anesthesia, surgery, internal medicine, reproduction, sports medicine, and rehabilitation. A research project is assigned to each intern to be completed during the year. Since its creation two years ago, EVMC has received a high international interest with more than 80 applications per year from all over the globe.

Dr. Tatiana Vinardell, Head of Research and Education at EVMC, said: “This accomplishment positions EVMC in the international veterinary scene, following two years of hard work developing our clinical, educational, and research services. We are establishing ourselves as leaders in the Middle East in terms of educational veterinary programs with an integrative research aspect of the internship.”