An orthopedic residency is a hospital-based medical training program that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal diseases and injuries. A candidate for an orthopedic residency must be a graduate of a four-year medical school and have chosen orthopedic medicine as their specialty. Residents are doctors who are not yet fully licensed to practice medicine without supervision and are enrolled in the program.
The road to becoming an orthopedic surgeon can be long and winding, with residency programs typically lasting three to five years after medical school. The length of time varies depending on the hospital and the orthopedic sub-specialty. It combines a hands-on training experience with broad academic studies under the supervision of attending physicians. Residents are classified as house staff and are paid a salary, though it is modest due to their status as physicians-in-training.
All residents in the program receive orthopedic surgery training and learn how to properly position and repair bones with screws, plates, and pins. Nutrition, fluid and electrolyte balance assessment, preoperative pathology, surgical technique, and wound healing are all highlighted. Disc and nerve repair, amputations, bone grafting, traction, arthroscopic surgery, kneecap removal, joint replacements, and a variety of other orthopedic procedures are among the procedures they perform. One of the main focuses of an orthopedic residency is the coordination of patient care.
The diversity of the patient population and the types of cases treated are two factors to consider when comparing accredited orthopedic residency programs. Another factor is the amount of direct student involvement in trauma management that is permitted. The qualifications of attending staff members and their level of expertise, as well as the percentage of graduates who pass the board certification exam, are all factors to consider. The number of orthopedic specialties offered each hospital program, the ratio of attending physicians to house staff members, and the professional status of the program’s graduates are also factors to consider.
Interpersonal communication, clinical judgment, and professionalism are among the study units that residents will encounter. They’ll devote time to learning how to operate high-tech surgical equipment and researching treatment options. They’ll also look into degenerative diseases and imaging in radiology.
Pediatric orthopedics, traumatology, musculoskeletal oncology, and rehabilitation are just a few of the divisions from which to choose orthopedic subspecialties. Adult joint reconstruction or a focus on the hand, elbow, and upper extremity may be preferred some students. Others are more interested in foot and ankle surgery, spine surgery, sports medicine, or microsurgery.
A resident can apply to sit for the board certification exam after completing all of the requirements of their orthopedic residency program. An extensive written exam will be used to assess his or her knowledge, skill, and qualifications. If that goes well, the process will be completed with an oral examination.