Can you still operate over the whole body

[MilesDavisTheDoctor]

It seems like these days the trend in ortho is to specialize pretty heavily. You become a joints guy or shoulder/elbow guy or a spine guy or a sports guy. A generation ago it seems like there were a lot more general orthopods who operated on joints, hand, elbow etc. Is this still possible or do you basically need to just focus on one part of the body now to get a job out of residency? (especially in competitive markets like cities)

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[OrthoTraumaMD]

It seems like these days the trend in ortho is to specialize pretty heavily. You become a joints guy or shoulder/elbow guy or a spine guy or a sports guy. A generation ago it seems like there were a lot more general orthopods who operated on joints, hand, elbow etc. Is this still possible or do you basically need to just focus on one part of the body now to get a job out of residency? (especially in competitive markets like cities)

You can do multiple things if you’re in private practice. One of my friends is sports trained but also does arthroplasty and takes trauma call. In academics, it’s more niche work.

 

[MilesDavisTheDoctor]

If you're in private practice can you just do whatever you want? What determines what you're allowed to do - is it just if you feel comfortable doing it?

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

If you're in private practice can you just do whatever you want? What determines what you're allowed to do - is it just if you feel comfortable doing it?

Obviously it will depend on what your other partners are doing and what you were hired for and the type of agreement you have. But once you graduate from residency you have privileges to do any ortho procedure. The one exception is spine— many hospitals will not grant you privileges for that unless you’ve done a fellowship in spine.

 

[Miles Gloriosus]

Obviously it will depend on what your other partners are doing and what you were hired for and the type of agreement you have. But once you graduate from residency you have privileges to do any ortho procedure. The one exception is spine— many hospitals will not grant you privileges for that unless you’ve done a fellowship in spine.

Pretty much what she said. Most hospitals/surgery centers will grant “core orthopedic privileges” minus spine after residency. Some places might carve out certain procedures needing evidence of a fellowship or certain number done in the past. For example, was asked for addition proof that I could do endoscopic CTRs or micro vascular hand procedures.

Also, some malignant groups may have a thing in their contracts saying you can do certain procedures but not others. Heard a story of a guy who interviewed for a job stating he could do knee scopes but not shoulder scopes in the contract. Senior shoulder partner didn’t want new sports guy stealing his business.

 

[DarkHorizon]

It seems like these days the trend in ortho is to specialize pretty heavily. You become a joints guy or shoulder/elbow guy or a spine guy or a sports guy. A generation ago it seems like there were a lot more general orthopods who operated on joints, hand, elbow etc. Is this still possible or do you basically need to just focus on one part of the body now to get a job out of residency? (especially in competitive markets like cities)

Yes, everything but spine.