Orthopaedic residencies will be accredited to offer five years of graduate medical education. The orthopaedic residency director is responsible for the design, implementation, and oversight of a PGY 1 year that will prepare residents for specialty education in orthopaedic surgery. The PGY 1 year must include resident participation in clinical and didactic activities that will give them the opportunity to:
In order to meet these goals the PGY1 year must include:
For more information, visit the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Orthopaedic Association.
The description of this surgical specialty was adapted from a description set forth by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).
Correction of childhood deformities was the genesis of the specialty orthopaedics (orthos-straight; pais-child). Initially, and even up to a couple of decades ago, it was a nonoperative specialty. Technological advances in biomaterials and our knowledge of biomechanics tremendously advanced orthopaedics from applying braces and Plaster of Paris casts to super-specialized surgical procedures covering a broad range from joint replacement to spinal surgery. The scope of orthopaedics includes the prevention, investigation, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system by nonsurgical and surgical methods.
Orthopaedic surgeons see an extremely diverse patient population from young children with spinal disorders and extremity deformities to elderly patients with joint arthritis and osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. We still see a large amount of nonoperative problems, but can also significantly improve the lives of people with operative procedures to regain mobility and function.
Orthopaedic surgery is a five-year residency after medical school. Many orthopaedic surgeons choose to continue their training after residency to complete fellowships in a wide variety of subspecialties including: spine surgery, hand surgery, sports medicine, total joint replacement (hip and knee), pediatric orthopaedics, foot and ankle, and orthopaedic oncology.
The musculoskeletal system is a beautiful and fascinating human structure. It allows us to participate and enjoy the essence of humanity.
Life is motion, and motion is life.
Rick C. Sasso, MD, FACS
Indianapolis, IN