Orthopedic surgeon vs Radiologist

[RJGOP]

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Hey Guys, I just finished college and I'm heading into M1. I know I have quite a while to choose my future specialty, but I'm interested in knowing the pros and cons of each specialty. I have not decided to either go into Rads or ortho, but I highly anticipate doing so, for I have always wanted to do so. Could you guys be kind enough to explain to me the pros and cons of each profession? Perhaps discuss the more overlooked aspects as well such as health and exposure to radiation. Thanks.

 

[Ja3ger]

Wait until you take Step 1.

 

[baxt1412]

Maybe talk to Ortho or Rad Onc MD/DOs?

 

[DrBowtie]

Unless you do IR, your radiation exposure will likely be higher in Ortho than in Diagnostic Radiology due to use of intra op fluoro.

 

[The Milkman]

Unless you do IR, your radiation exposure will likely be higher in Ortho than in Diagnostic Radiology due to use of intra op fluoro.

Can you do diagnostic and IR, or just one or the other?

 

[Fabio Lanzoni]

Wait until you take Step 1.

Competitive specialties require a strong app that can mean starting research and shadowing in your field of interest early on. There's also no reason to be aiming for AOA/260 Step I if you are happy with doing family med anywhere.

 

[RJGOP]

Unless you do IR, your radiation exposure will likely be higher in Ortho than in Diagnostic Radiology due to use of intra op fluoro.

Yeah, if I were to go into Radiology I'd probably choose IR although I'll have to experience that for myself. As for ortho, I suppose all ortho specialties are exposed to the same amount of radiation. Exposure wouldn't make or break my choice, but I've known several IRs with lymphomas.

 

[DrBowtie]

Can you do diagnostic and IR, or just one or the other?

Things are currently in a bit of flux and there is current transition from fellowship after DR to more primary IR residencies. Very similar to Vascular and Plastics. Who knows how it will look by the time you guys apply.

Something to consider is that a good deal of procedures many would consider IR are well within the skillset of a DR. Biopsies, abscess drains, joint injections/arthrograms, vertebroplasty etc.

 

[RJGOP]

Competitive specialties require a strong app that can mean starting research and shadowing in your field of interest early on. There's also no reason to be aiming for AOA/260 Step I if you are happy with doing family med anywhere.

Yeah, thanks. I will probably try to shadow more often in med school. I just want to make sure that is what I want to eventually do. I have shadowed full body rads before but never ortho.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

You should check out this thread:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/orthopedic-surgery-ask-a-resident-anything.1047100/
Orthogate should have some solid information as well:
http://www.orthogate.org/forums/
Also, the med and specialty forums on sdn might be more useful than this one😉

 

[RJGOP]

You should check out this thread:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/orthopedic-surgery-ask-a-resident-anything.1047100/
Orthogate should have some solid information as well:
http://www.orthogate.org/forums/
Also, the med and specialty forums on sdn might be more useful than this one😉

Thanks for the help.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

Thanks for the help.

I feel that it's advantageous to watch ortho procedures on YouTube and get some background information on them prior to shadowing (I wish I had done more of this). For example, if you shadow a sports medicine specialist you should check out ACL and meniscus surgeries. Shoulder procedures are also common in sports medicine practices.
Here is a video of an ACL reconstruction with a patellar tendon autograft:

Information about common ortho injuries such as ACL tears, meniscus tears, rotator cuff tears etc is pretty abundant and easily accessible with a google search.
I just used sports medicine as an example, but if you decide to shadow a surgeon that does hip and knee replacements, you can easily find resources for that as well. The same applies to other ortho subspecialties.
Good luck!!

 

[RJGOP]

I feel that it's advantageous to watch ortho procedures on YouTube and get some background information on them prior to shadowing (I wish I had done more of this). For example, if you shadow a sports medicine specialist you should check out ACL and meniscus surgeries. Shoulder procedures are also common in sports medicine practices.
Here is a video of an ACL reconstruction with a patellar tendon autograft:

Information about common ortho injuries such as ACL tears, meniscus tears, rotator cuff tears etc is pretty abundant and easily accessible with a google search.
I just used sports medicine as an example, but if you decide to shadow a surgeon that does hip and knee replacements, you can easily find resources for that as well. The same applies to other ortho subspecialties.
Good luck!!

It's funny you mention this because I have recently watched a lot of orthopedic surgery videos online, not this one though. Thanks again for the help.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

It's funny you mention this because I have recently watched a lot of orthopedic surgery videos online, not this one though. Thanks again for the help.

I shadowed an ortho surgeon that specializes in knee and shoulder surgery and I was totally unprepared lol. I had only watched hip surgeries prior to this experience. It's like going to an amazing concert without knowing the music well. It's always better when you know the songs lol.

 

[RJGOP]

I shadowed an ortho surgeon that specializes in knee and shoulder surgery and I was totally unprepared lol. I had only watched hip surgeries prior to this experience. It's like going to an amazing concert without knowing the music well. It's always better when you know the songs lol.

Are you currently in med school or in residency?

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

Are you currently in med school or in residency?

Neither. Just a slightly older pre-med.

 

[RJGOP]

Neither. Just a slightly older pre-med.[/QUOTE

I take it then you want to become some sort of orthopedic surgeon, or you are just "browsing" possibilities.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

Right now, that is my favorite specialty. Although, I do look at other stuff such as neurosurgery, pm&r, and vascular surgery. Obviously, I'm keeping an open mind, but I really don't see myself going into primary care.
I've been told several times that it's better to explore specialties such as ortho surgery and neurosurgery sooner than later.

 

[RJGOP]

Right now, that is my favorite specialty. Although, I do look at other stuff such as neurosurgery, pm&r, and vascular surgery. Obviously, I'm keeping an open mind, but I really don't see myself going into primary care.
I've been told several times that it's better to explore specialties such as ortho surgery and neurosurgery sooner than later.

I've also been told it is better to explore sooner than later. That goes for ortho, neuro, radiology and I've even heard that for ENT. I'm also thinking about neuro but I would probably only be doing spine surgeries, which can be performed by orthos a too, unless it is exclusively dealing with nerves.

 

[Mad Jack]

Hey Guys, I just finished college and I'm heading into M1. I know I have quite a while to choose my future specialty, but I'm interested in knowing the pros and cons of each specialty. I have not decided to either go into Rads or ortho, but I highly anticipate doing so, for I have always wanted to do so. Could you guys be kind enough to explain to me the pros and cons of each profession? Perhaps discuss the more overlooked aspects as well such as health and exposure to radiation. Thanks.

Before we can provide guidance on ortho versus rads, it's critical that we know how much you can lift.

 

[RJGOP]

Before we can provide guidance on ortho versus rads, it's critical that we know how much you can lift.

I've heard that stereotype too often man. Funny stuff. My roommate was telling me the other day why I was contemplating those two, considering I was a former baseball player and pretty good sized dude.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

Before we can provide guidance on ortho versus rads, it's critical that we know how much you can lift.

In addition, I think neurosurgery applicants should be able to demonstrate some level of telepathic capabilities.

 

[RJGOP]

In addition, I think neurosurgery applicants should be able to demonstrate some level of telepathic capabilities.

And radiologists need x-Ray vision.

 

[trino]

And radiologists need x-Ray vision.

Cyclops was the best radiation oncologist there ever was