General Orthopaedics

[webbjj]

I've seen a lot about the various sub specialties recently regarding ortho, but does anybody have any insight into general orthopedics?

Who in here wants to do general, and why?
What types of cases do you see?
pros and cons of general ortho
average work week, + clinc/OR time?

Thanks,
This will be interesting

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[sscooterguy]

I've seen a lot about the various sub specialties recently regarding ortho, but does anybody have any insight into general orthopedics?

Who in here wants to do general, and why?
What types of cases do you see?
pros and cons of general ortho
average work week, + clinc/OR time?

Thanks,
This will be interesting

From what the senior residents tell me, general ortho is fine if you want to be in a smaller city/town. You can do whatever you feel comfortable doing. Without a fellowship, most general orthos would feel uncomforable doing spine, very complicated joint replacements such as shoulder, oncology, and complicated hand, but would be able to do a great number of procedures.

Most practices in the big cities prefer to have specialists, as they are faster at what they do and can do more cases. However, that doesn't mean that they just do their specialty. The "general" cases are split amongst specialists based upon how busy each specialty is, seniority, etc. For example, at my academic center, trauma and onc specialties usually take on the bulk of the general cases because they are less busy (although we are a level 1 trauma center, there is another bigger level 1 deeper in the city). They see mostly uncomplcated joints and fractures on top of their specialty. The hand surgeon in contrast, although willing to do other cases, is so swamped that he can only take hand cases.

Thats my understanding. Anyone else see it differently?

sscooterguy

 

[mysophobe]

Seems pretty spot on to me. The comfort level also varies with how much you do and how long you have been practicing. There is an ortho guy here that does a lot of spine work including tumor stuff, and he didn't do a fellowship. He's just been practicing for longer than I've been alive, so he's very comfortable with it. Plus, there is a neurosurgeon that is available to help him if it's needed.

 

[dobonedoc]

The hand surgeon in contrast, although willing to do other cases, is so swamped that he can only take hand cases.

sscooterguy

This is the biggest reason I think general ortho is the way to go. I hope to have the luxury of doing the cases I enjoy, and doing a variety of cases. Also, keep in mind that the specialists are the ones that are left treating the most complicated of cases. Challenges are nice from time-to-time, but when your practice is filled with them, the days can get very long.