The more important thing than what you present is how you do it. Some people could have a professionally prepared PPT on TAR vs fusions and still make it a snooze fest, and others can do a good job even on a PPT on onycho or fasciitis. You know this when you think of your professors; some make the topic come to life and some always have a half full lecture hall since they suck at presenting the materials.
Be charismatic. Be conversational. Interact with the audience regularly with fairly easy slow pitches to build rapport ("am I the only one who needs a stronger cup of coffee on Mondays," "unless I hit the MegaMillions, I figure we all need to know how to do Weil osteotomies, so I'm summarizing the best studies on that procedure for us to discuss today," "do we think this fracture needs surgery," "how long would we wait before starting weightbearing," "what antibiotic does everyone prefer for punctures like this," "would we revise this fusion now at 6mo based on this XR... or give it more time to heal"). The "we" or "our" approach naturally builds commonality. It is best to call on actual people by name (with easy questions to make them look good), but that is better kept until you're a resident with more rapport with the other residents and slightly higher totem pole status. Just speak casually to the group when you're a student.
For the PPT file itself, use only high or very high contrast (yellow on dark blue, black on white, white on black, white on crimson, navy on pastel pink, etc). Those PPTs that think peach on green or some dumb combo will work are dead before they started since people just quit paying attention if they have to squint or struggle due to color scheme or sizing. All type should be bold font and large or very large and readable. Few words on the slides, basically just key words and phrases (do NOT just read slides). The slides with a paragraph nobody can read are also garbage. Roughly 1-2 slides per minute. Have at least one picture on every slide (clinical, XR, cartoon, snippet from a journal, whatever... makes it fun and visual, since this is a PPT and not a speech). Animation or effects in PPT for the pics or the words (Q/A or audience interact parts) are quite good for get/keep attention if used in moderation, assuming you know how to use them. Jokes - verbal or with pics in the PPT - are fine if that's your style.
I think you can select whatever topic you like. It is much more the presenter than the topic. "People will forget what you say, people will forget what you do, people will always remember how you made them feel." As was said, you are NOT doing a technique guide or presenting your results, you are just doing a boards review or a current lit summary for the topic. Simply present the text or journal article results/recs and stick to it ("Myerson's study resulted in X", "according to Y, the procedure was able allow Z"). It is smart to look for a topic that's fairly up-and-coming or at least one that's common for boards (and give a good, quick summary), and if you pick one you like, it's easier to do well and sound enthusiastic.
Stay under the time limit; leave them wanting more. You should get at least a couple of "good job" or questions afterwards if you delivered it well. I think quick case presentations are always good. I tried to do that on almost all of mine. I'd usually take a 2min case then 10min lit review or the lit review then a 2min case (usually from another non-local clerkship or from the journals with credit given to the program/authors). That shows them you can apply the knowledge, and it also accomplishes a humble brag that you are visiting other good programs and know what to read. That will appeal to any program's curiosity of what other top programs are doing, and it shows you are a student of value.
Again, nobody really cares if you present on calc fx vs osteomyelitis or hammertoe fixation vs triple arthrodesis. They will remember whose PPT generated good discussion, a laugh, showed confidence, or helped them out with a few pearls on a good new journal article or classic info for boards.
...i literally typed this and heybrother posted same stuff (topic matters less than delivery) concurrently, haha. It's the way to go.
