Orthopaedic Surgery

The Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine offers a broad-based residency program covering the full range of orthopaedics and sports medicine. Residents rotate during the five year residency through several areas of training: hip and knee reconstruction, pediatric orthopaedic surgery, foot and ankle reconstruction, hand and microvascular surgery, joint reconstruction and arthroscopy, shoulder and elbow surgery, sports medicine, musculoskeletal oncology, and pediatric orthopaedic tumors.

Hip and knee reconstruction is a third year rotation that emphasizes the comprehensive evaluation of patients with degenerative and inflammatory conditions of the hip and knee. During this rotation, residents learn to perform a thorough assessment and management plan for individuals with hip and knee conditions. Residents learn preoperative planning osteotomy and primary and revision arthroplasty including the elements of implant selection and detailed "templating".

The Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery rotation happens at Children’s Hospital during the third and fifth years. The R3 is responsible for emergency triage, evaluation and admission of patients from the emergency room. The R5 is the resident leader and directs the daily assignments for floor work and operative cases, and works directly with the staff to discuss educational needs for the residents.

Foot and ankle reconstruction is a fourth year rotation that emphasizes the comprehensive evaluation of patients with degenerative, inflammatory and post-traumatic conditions of the foot and ankle. During this rotation, residents learn to perform a thorough assessment and management plan for individuals with foot and ankle conditions. Residents also learn preoperative planning of primary and revision ankle arthodesis, arthroplasty, and re-alignment procedures for malunion and acquired foot deformity.

The shoulder and elbow surgery rotation offers training in the practical evaluation and management of the full range of shoulder and elbow conditions, including cuff disease, instability, arthritis, post-traumatic deformities, and failed previous surgery. During this rotation residents gain a basic knowledge of shoulder and elbow anatomy and pathology through clinical experience and reading.

Sports medicine is a third year rotation that provides an overview of the prevention and treatment sports related injuries involving both the elite level and recreational athlete. During the rotation, the resident gains expertise in preoperative indications, preoperative planning, and performance of procedures dealing with the injured athlete. Reflecting the frequency of injury this rotation emphasizes knee, shoulder, hip and elbow arthroscopy, ligament reconstruction, cartilage restoration as well as the treatment incurred by sports activities.

The musculoskeletal oncology rotation covers both adults and children. During the adult rotation, residents spend twelve weeks attending to inpatients and outpatients at a high-grade chemotherapy clinic and also evaluating patients with lower-grade tumors at a bone and joint tumor clinic. The pediatric bone tumor service revolves around a multidisciplinary, high-volume clinic. Residents for both the pediatric and adult service are expected to master the differential diagnosis for bony and soft-tissue musculoskeletal oncology during their rotation.

For additional information, visit the Orthopaedic Surgery web site.