Orthopaedic surgeons have been noted to have the power of a bull and, unfairly, the brains to match. In fact orthopaedics is the most logical and rewarding of the medical specialties. The surgeons involved are craftsmen (and now women) who may be involved in a degree of carpentry, but the result is something to be admired and preserved for prosperity in pictures. It is a true art. There is a hint of jealousy in these scandalous comments on the orthopaedic intellect.
Students introduced to orthopaedics generally find it enjoyable, especially when it is opposed to a specialty that mixes potions, forces them upon unwitting victims and then awaits the side-effects. It is black and white versus shades of grey, but students have great difficulty learning degrees rather than stark contrasts.
Orthopaedics has been divided into ‘medicine’ and ‘surgery’ but generally, orthopaedic medicine is handled by a rheumatologist. Sports physicians also treat a number of conditions related to orthopaedic medicine. The orthopaedic surgeon is more concerned with the surgical conditions – not surgery. He or she operates on only a small percentage of patients they see. Those that would benefit from surgery (and not be made worse) must be carefully selected – another part of the art. This makes the bovine comparison even more unfair. But don’t get between the orthopod and a gate.
This program explores the aspects of orthopaedic surgery that are essential to hopeful or current clinicians.