Biomechanics?

[261766]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I am interested in orthopedics and, contingent upon good step I scores and MS3 grades, want to apply to an ortho residency. After reading Collins' Hot Lights, Cold Steel and reading some of the threads here, I have gathered that ortho has quite a bit of biomechanics (obviously).

My only reservation in entering ortho is that I was not too particularly fond of physics or anything engineering in undergrad. Anyone else in the same boat? Did this matter in your performance as an orthopod? When exactly do you get introduced to/learn biomechanics? Should I be concerned or focused on another surgical subspecialty?

 

[ddmo]

It's not really complex physics or engineering. We aren't calculating formulas in the OR. Most of that takes place with implant design which the vast majority of orthopaedic surgeons are not involved in. I would say a better assessment is whether you are a mechanical person or not. What I mean by that is, do you like building things around the house, working on cars, etc? Those and the understanding of mechanics as it relates to them are more akin to ortho than your quantum mechanics course. Understanding things like stresses, force vectors, alignment, etc.

 

[cuddlepuppy]

The emphasis on biomechanics may be slightly different based upon the type of program you're at. If you're at a smaller, community based program you may not get much in terms of biomechanics. If you're at a large, academic institution, biomechanics can be stressed alot.

The previous post is right, it is not intense physics. But most of orthopedics revolves around biomechanics, almost everything. Internal fixation, external fixation, how bones fail, implant design, and the influence of implants on joint function, kinematics, and kinetics.

It's true, you don't have to invest much knowledge in biomechanics and just put in your favorite implant the same way for everyone. Or, you can learn about how different implants are better suited for different patients and how changing certain areas of an implant (especially in total hips and knees) affects longevity and survival.

Bottomline, whether you choose to learn about it and become aware of it, orthopedics is grounded upon biomechanics. It is one of our pillars, if not our foundation.

 

[261766]

thanks for your input!