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The Journal of bone and joint surgery has always been one of my favorite publications and its hard for one to argue the quality of research that is routinely published in the Journal. That being said it is an orthopedic Journal and I think most of us would agree there has been a less than fair treatment of podiatry by most orthopedic journals in the past. For example the "Whither Podiatry" Presidential address that was published in Orthopeadic Clinics of North America in 1979 (for those of you unfamiliar google it). Not to mention that fact that many of the journals choose not to publish articles submitted by authors with a DPM behind their names.
Given all of this, you can imagine my surprise when I opened my most recent copy of the Journal of bone joint surgery to find an editorial by one of the more well known and well-respected orthopedic surgeons that could be actually interpreted as pro-podiatry. The editorial goes so far as to state that podiatric surgeons have become experts in our field and to say that it is ludicrous to argue that we do not have training to perform within are full scope of practice. It is a long overdue admission from a respected orthopod and I think it is worthwhile for all practicing podiatric surgeons to read. To me it shows an increasing willingness from orthopedic surgeons to admit what we have know to be true all along. Specifically that podiatric surgeons are as qualified as any physician regardless of degree to treat foot and ankle pathology by any means. I'm optimistic that more of Dr. Sarmiento's colleagues are beginning to feel comfortable voicing this publicly. Below is the paragraph from the editorial that references podiatry specifically. If you get JBJS definitely read the whole thing. It put a smile on my face.
To argue that such a scenario is not possible would be
blindness at its best. Osteopathic physicians and surgeons have
accomplished an enormous expansion of their provision of
health care in years past. Likewise, podiatrists, who for generations
had limited their work to minor surgeries of the toes,
managed, over a very short period of time, to become doctors/
surgeons who currently care for patients with all types of musculoskeletal
conditions below the knee. They treat traumatic
injuries as well as degenerative, infectious, and congenital diseases
with clinical and surgical means. They perform internal
fixation of fractures of the tibia, ankle, os calcis, hindfoot, and
forefoot. In addition, they perform total ankle arthroplasties
and tendon transfers. In the process, they have become experts
in the field to the point that it is ludicrous to argue that their
qualifications do not allow them to cover such a wide territory.One can safely predict that, in the not too distant future, they
will request official authorization to perform total knee replacements
as well as other complicated procedures. Likewise,
it is quite possible that others, including chiropractors, nurse
practitioners, physical and occupational therapists, and orthopaedic
technicians, will attempt to expand their practices in the
same manner as the podiatrists.
e105(2)
THE JOURNAL OF BONE & JOINT SURGERY d JBJ S .ORG
VOLUME 94-A d NUMBER 14 d JULY 18, 2012
THE PROJECTED SHORTAGE OF ORTHOPAEDISTS MAY BE OUR FAULT
Given all of this, you can imagine my surprise when I opened my most recent copy of the Journal of bone joint surgery to find an editorial by one of the more well known and well-respected orthopedic surgeons that could be actually interpreted as pro-podiatry. The editorial goes so far as to state that podiatric surgeons have become experts in our field and to say that it is ludicrous to argue that we do not have training to perform within are full scope of practice. It is a long overdue admission from a respected orthopod and I think it is worthwhile for all practicing podiatric surgeons to read. To me it shows an increasing willingness from orthopedic surgeons to admit what we have know to be true all along. Specifically that podiatric surgeons are as qualified as any physician regardless of degree to treat foot and ankle pathology by any means. I'm optimistic that more of Dr. Sarmiento's colleagues are beginning to feel comfortable voicing this publicly. Below is the paragraph from the editorial that references podiatry specifically. If you get JBJS definitely read the whole thing. It put a smile on my face.
To argue that such a scenario is not possible would be
blindness at its best. Osteopathic physicians and surgeons have
accomplished an enormous expansion of their provision of
health care in years past. Likewise, podiatrists, who for generations
had limited their work to minor surgeries of the toes,
managed, over a very short period of time, to become doctors/
surgeons who currently care for patients with all types of musculoskeletal
conditions below the knee. They treat traumatic
injuries as well as degenerative, infectious, and congenital diseases
with clinical and surgical means. They perform internal
fixation of fractures of the tibia, ankle, os calcis, hindfoot, and
forefoot. In addition, they perform total ankle arthroplasties
and tendon transfers. In the process, they have become experts
in the field to the point that it is ludicrous to argue that their
qualifications do not allow them to cover such a wide territory.One can safely predict that, in the not too distant future, they
will request official authorization to perform total knee replacements
as well as other complicated procedures. Likewise,
it is quite possible that others, including chiropractors, nurse
practitioners, physical and occupational therapists, and orthopaedic
technicians, will attempt to expand their practices in the
same manner as the podiatrists.
e105(2)
THE JOURNAL OF BONE & JOINT SURGERY d JBJ S .ORG
VOLUME 94-A d NUMBER 14 d JULY 18, 2012
THE PROJECTED SHORTAGE OF ORTHOPAEDISTS MAY BE OUR FAULT
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