IR vs Ortho

[iA-MD2013]

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I'm having a dilemma. I'm leaning way more towards IR (because it's so coooolll!), but I've always liked the musculoskeletal system in anatomy and think ortho could be fun. My problem is that I have not had exposure to either in 3rd year. So I'm having a really hard time making a decision when I haven't seen what these 2 do on a day to day basis. BTW, I'm planning on spending some time this winter break in each of these 2 specialties 🙂() just to get an idea of what they do. I've spent limited time in the IR suite and scrubbed in on a few ortho cases, but still really dont understand the specialties.

From the little I know:
Ortho - nice people. harder residency due to trauma, but not as bad as gsurg. shorter surgeries (1-4 hrs). quick fix to a lot of problems - happy pts. multiple fellowship options.
IR - even nicer people. chiller residency but will work just as hard as an attending. great technology. minimally invasive. interventional onc!!! short procedures. don't own pts. turf wars 🙁 radiation exposure!

Anyway, so since you guys obviously chose rads over ortho, could you please try to convince me to do the same?

 

[upright]

If you use faces in forum posts, orthopods will rape you. Hope I helped.

 

[iA-MD2013]

If you use faces in forum posts, orthopods will rape you. Hope I helped.

hahaha ok point taken. i'm a female, maybe they'd let me get away with it?

 

[officedepot]

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[MrBurns10]

I'm having a dilemma. I'm leaning way more towards IR (because it's so coooolll!), but I've always liked the musculoskeletal system in anatomy and think ortho could be fun. My problem is that I have not had exposure to either in 3rd year. So I'm having a really hard time making a decision when I haven't seen what these 2 do on a day to day basis. BTW, I'm planning on spending some time this winter break in each of these 2 specialties 🙂() just to get an idea of what they do. I've spent limited time in the IR suite and scrubbed in on a few ortho cases, but still really dont understand the specialties.

From the little I know:
Ortho - nice people. harder residency due to trauma, but not as bad as gsurg. shorter surgeries (1-4 hrs). quick fix to a lot of problems - happy pts. multiple fellowship options.
IR - even nicer people. chiller residency but will work just as hard as an attending. great technology. minimally invasive. interventional onc!!! short procedures. don't own pts. turf wars 🙁 radiation exposure!

Anyway, so since you guys obviously chose rads over ortho, could you please try to convince me to do the same?

I would also suggest checking out MSK (diagnostic) radiology. You see some pretty cool stuff, it has some procedures (bone biopsies, arthrograms, etc), a much better lifestyle than IR, and is a pretty popular destination for people interested in ortho who either changed their mind or switched residencies.

 

[iA-MD2013]

I think you already have a pretty good idea of each field from your post. You'll have to decide what kinds of procedures you like more. If you like the OR a good amount, open stuff, some clinic, even some pretty cool research, do ortho. Being a female and applying to a hugely male dominated field you have a big advantage in getting a good residency.

As for IR do that if you are not a fan of the OR but like procedures and less patient contact than ortho. But yeah the cons you pointed out will remain for some time because I don't think many in IR are trained on the patient management side on a lot of things and thus it leads to animosity among other fields (I've asked around a lot and the biggest gripe I hear is the IR doesn't take care of their own patients). That's a bigger hurdle to leap than you might think. Also realize you better like DR because you have a good 4 years of that before you get to fellowship. I've heard from residents that lots of people who go into rads for IR end up not ever going that route because of worse hours, no higher pay, and the fact that you still have the ability to do procedures in the DR areas. It is my personal opinion that turf wars are overblown to a degree. Lots of people want in but the logistics to overcome are pretty high. Can't help you with concerns about the radiation.

I suggest doing an ortho elective and a rads elective early in 4th year to see which you enjoy more. On the rads do a couple weeks in IR and the reading room (since you have 4 years in the reading room and you must learn that material).

Also at the attending level I think the hours and pay in ortho are better than in IR. I suggest doing more reseach into the fellowships ortho has to offer before making the final choice.

Thank you! That was very helpful. And I'm glad to know that my ideas about each of these fields aren't totally off. If I were to do a rotation in both rads and ortho early on my fourth year, it would be in July and August. Would that look bad to whichever specialty I was applying to that I was still indecisive that late in the game?

I would also suggest checking out MSK (diagnostic) radiology. You see some pretty cool stuff, it has some procedures (bone biopsies, arthrograms, etc), a much better lifestyle than IR, and is a pretty popular destination for people interested in ortho who either changed their mind or switched residencies.

I never knew MSK rads also had some procedures! I will absolutely look into it 👍

 

[VIRads]

I never knew MSK rads also had some procedures! I will absolutely look into it 👍

Have you done a radiology rotation? A lot of people don't realize this, but radiologists in general do a far number of procedures and you don't have to be IR to do them. >80% of biopsies done now in the USA are done by radiologists. Mammography has plenty of procedures as well. On ultrasound months you will be doing a good amount of thyroid biopsies. MSK has lots procedures like pain injections. As a radiologist you need to use flouroscopy for GI studies, change PEG tubes, do lumbar punctures, etc. These are all diagnostic radiology procedures.

 

[jfgavina]

Have you done a radiology rotation? A lot of people don't realize this, but radiologists in general do a far number of procedures and you don't have to be IR to do them. >80% of biopsies done now in the USA are done by radiologists. Mammography has plenty of procedures as well. On ultrasound months you will be doing a good amount of thyroid biopsies. MSK has lots procedures like pain injections. As a radiologist you need to use flouroscopy for GI studies, change PEG tubes, do lumbar punctures, etc. These are all diagnostic radiology procedures.

****in speciality

 

[officedepot]

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[iA-MD2013]

Thanks again officedepot! You've been a tremendous help. I have done gensurg, and liked it! But then again, I've loved every rotation so far, so I wouldn't be one bit surprised if I end up enjoying both rads and ortho rotations as a 4th year. I really want to do research, but I'm not sure in which field, which is why I'm forcing myself to make a decision soon (or at least have a really good idea). You're right that they are both great fields and I know I'll be happy with whichever I choose, but this is really hard.

 

[davidjones]

I'm not sure about ortho but all other things being equal I think the research in IR is more vibrant; lots of prospective studies for cancer treatments lots of new techniques to evaluate. Not to mention the chance to participate in changing the field.

 

[officedepot]

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[MossPoh]

I've been in the radiology versus ortho debate for quite sometime. My surgery rotation did not clear it up. I think I'd be happy in both, but I also feel that radiology offers me the career flexibility I desire. I just not sure I want to stand in the OR all day if my back is killing me. With something like IR, I can join a smaller private practice and do a fair amount of stuff, but still read studies. When I get older, I can phase down the amount of procedures. Also, while both specialties do a lot of stuff, I find the bread and butter more interesting with radiology. I just don't know how many knee replacements I could do before going postal. But hey, we all have our interests and our reasons. My research interests gravitate more towards imaging and radiology informatics as well.