Why physical strength for Ortho?????

[Sharkfan]

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Could someone please explain why a large amount of physical strength is needed for ortho? I just can't figure this one out.

And if the universal consensus is that strength is needed, could someone give me a rough idea of how much? Although I am female, I would love to pursue the ortho path in med school (away rotations, research ect.). I was a varsity college athlete for four years, loved lifting and working out, and would love to help improve the lives and performances of athletes (of all levels) for the rest of my life.

So basically, why strength? What do I need to be able to lift? Thanks in advance for helping me out with this!

 

[surgicane]

Many times the reduction of a displaced fracture or dislocation can take a considerable amount of strength on the part of the resident, especially if the patient is under-sedated and fighting back. However, I have seen quite a few less-then-gladiator sized female orthopods manage just as well as their male counterparts.

If you're really interested in ortho, don't let something like strength or body-size deter you. Maybe some of my ortho colleagues can comment further. Good luck!

 

[MediCane2006]

Go for it Sharkfan! I'm certainly not going to let it stop me! 🙂

I think you should maximize whatever strength you do have, though. It certainly can't hurt, right?

 

[Orthopod]

During my away rotations I met several female attending orthopods who weigh in at around 100lbs. They were just as good if not better then their larger male counterparts. I don't think brute strength is required to enter the field of ortho. I only matters that you love the specialty and are willing to go the extra mile to get there. Although there are programs out there that have the jock mentality and take only those students that fit that mold, the majority of programs are not. I would ask around and do some investigating on which programs you would best fit in.

 

[Flack Pinku]

Originally posted by Orthopod
... Although there are programs out there that have the jock mentality and take only those students that fit that mold, the majority of programs are not. I would ask around and do some investigating on which programs you would best fit in.

Could you give some examples of such jock-mentality programs that you were talking about? Just curious...

 

[keith77]

Strength helps, but motivation is far more important. When it comes to getting a spot, it came down to numbers first and foremost and then personality.

Some programs definitely look for clones. A couple of programs told me they don't want to deal with any women and frown upon it [no joke]. Others, like ucla and harvard encourage it and u have an edge.

That said, it never hurts to squat 300lb and deadlift 400lb and be so massive that u require your own zipcode.😀

 

[Sharkfan]

Originally posted by keith77
A couple of programs told me they don't want to deal with any women and frown upon it [no joke].

Wow, that is... interesting.🙁 😡

Could you let us all know which programs you are talking about so us gals know not to waste our time?

 

[luckystar]

Hey Sharkfan, I sent you a PM 🙂

 

[pkpkpk420]

hey im a female thats interested in ortho too...
id like to know what programs uv come across that are boys club only

 

[Galaxian]

It does take some strength to reduce an acetabulum, or some other orthopedic fractures, but you don't have to be some kind of hercules! I don't think a woman should have any strength issues in ortho.

 

[keith77]

i really don't remember. Being a guy, this sounds bad, but it didnt bother me too much. u can always call the program coordinator and ask for how many women are in their class. that usually tells u a great deal. like this u dont waste an away rotation.

there are exceptions, though. for example, Rush, a powerhouse in ortho and ranked 11th by U.S. News, is trying hard to recruit women but since their last female graduated, all other females are scared off, but they shouldn't be b/c they are looking for women.

michigan has a female PD [kind of mean to guys but nice to women] and she is very receptive to women. i think most programs are getting better, too, but women are definitely still in the minority. Mayo, one of the ultra-elite programs in ortho, just wants the best of the best, regardless of sex. if u have the stats, u are on equal footing with everyone else. do an away there, and your golden.

 

[Apollyon]

Duke has one woman resident, out of 40 in the program.

 

[@70mphC2005--->]

George Washington Univ has 25% female orthopod residents, one of the highest in the nation. They all seem really cool too.

 

[fullefect1]

Last night I seen a repeat of "resident life" and the ortho resident came in and had to use some muslce power to twist this guys leg in. It seemed pretty interesting. The resident was a pretty large size man though, probably had been lifting weights since freshman year in high school.

 

[@70mphC2005--->]

TO reduce those hip fractures, I've heard some women stand up on top of the patient's bed and throw the entire weight of their body to put things back in place.

 

[ortho2003]

not to reduce hip fractures...that would hurt like hell, but I have seen both women and men (including myself) hop up on the bed and pull like hell for 15-20 minutes at a crack for a disclocation.

 

[Apollyon]

Had a pt in the ED a few days ago; he'd fractured his elbow 4 times, had pins and wires, but last sx was 8 yrs ago (pt is now 20, and in prison). In this state, prisoners have ankle shackles, and handcuffs connected to a waist belt.

This pt had dislocated his elbow (which normally subluxes) and it had not spontaneously reduced. Clinically, it looked like an ulnar dislocation, but radiographs looked like radial head. The ortho attending happened to be in the ED, so he was right on it.

The orthopod did some manipulation, then increasing pressure trying to reduce it. The COs had released the left handcuff. Patient c/o some pain, attending pushes more, and, with an audible "pop", it goes back in - and patient JUMPS about 6 inches on the bed.

I've never seen 2 middle aged corrections officers (or police, for that matter) move so fast!

 

[DoctorDoom]

For some procedures physical strength is required because you will need to hold limbs in place or plain lift them up off the table and stock still in order to get the proper exposure. But I have seen some smaller people, men and women, get around this by using alternative methods of prepping and positioning the patient. Don't let the physical strength thing prevent you from ortho if you love it.

You can work smarter instead of harder.

 

[PTjay]

I would suggest you spend some time in the ORs of your friendly local orthopods. I have been fortunate enough to accumulate a decent amount of observation time with an ortho doc who has an amazing personality and loves teaching in the OR. This is really the only way you're going to appreciate the strength you will need (at times). I don't in any way think that it should be a male only profession but you should know what you're getting into so take a look and get in the OR.

-J

 

[edinOH]

I always thought orthopods needed to be strong so they could more easily carry around all their cash.

 

[@70mphC2005--->]

Seriously,

does ortho actually make that much money compared to other specialties? I was looking on the internet for physician salaries, and the most recent compilations I saw showed that there are at least a dozen other specialties that make the same or more money than Ortho. I'm planning on going into this field but I haven't thought about whether this field is actually lucrative. It seemed like Retinal Surgery, CT surg, Vascular Surg, Neurosurg, Cards, GI, Heme/Onc, Rads and IR was where the cash flow was.

Also, several other physicians have told me that Ortho is not the field to go in if you want to get rich because the procedures are very long and the pay is the same as say a retinal surgeon who spent 30min in their surgery. For instance, one individual I know got into a car accident and fractured many bones, causing the Orthopod on call to spend the entire night putting him back together - he said his bill from the Ortho doc was $2800. Another guy I know had eye surgery in both eyes which took less than an hour and was billed $4100.

So why do some people equate ortho as a lucrative career compared to other specialties. What's your opinion?? Personally I want to go into Orthopedics because I think it's the coolest field out there, but it would be nice if I could quickly pay of all these damn loans and have a nice lifestyle.

 

[NE_Cornhusker1]

Originally posted by @70mphC2005--->
For instance, one individual I know got into a car accident and fractured many bones, causing the Orthopod on call to spend the entire night putting him back together - he said his bill from the Ortho doc was $2800.

Perhaps Dr. Nick Riveria?

http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Union/2899/drnick.html

$2800 sounds awfully low unless that is what the doc charged to cast him up and probably does not include cost of x-rays, casting material, ER visit, some sort of 'consultation fee', a $27 500 mg ibuprofen pill 😀, etc.

 

[@70mphC2005--->]

the 2800 went to the orthopod alone, but the whole hospital bill itself must have been huge

 

[Ross434]

I always thought orthopods needed to be strong so they could more easily carry around all their cash.

Yeah, same here,-- im lifting weights now to get started. 😀

 

[Pir8DeacDoc]

FWIW the female orthopod resident at Duke graduated from my school last year. She is not at all a big girl, quite petite actually. Sharp as a damn tack. Wish you guys all the best.