Closing the Gender Gap: Barriers to Success for Recruitment and Retention of the Female Orthopaedic Surgery Applicant.

» Orthopaedic surgery reports one of the lowest proportions of female residents among all medical specialties. While the number of female medical students has increased, our field has been particularly slow to respond to the gender gap. » There are several barriers to increased female representation in orthopaedics, including “jock” culture and male dominance, the residency application process, pregnancy and lifestyle concerns, a limited number of mentors and role models, and lack of early exposure to the field.

Resident Surgical Skills Web-Based Evaluation: A Comparison of 2 Assessment Tools.

Background: Evaluation of surgical skill competency is necessary as graduate medical education moves toward a competency-based curriculum. This study by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) and the Council of Orthopaedic Residency Directors (CORD) compares 2 web-based evaluation tools that assess the level of autonomy that is demonstrated by residents during surgical procedures in the operating room as measured by faculty.

Methods: Two hundred and ninety-four residents from 16 orthopaedic surgery residency programs were evaluated by 370 faculty using 2 web-based evaluation tools in a crossover design in which residents requested faculty review of their surgical skills before starting a case.

The impact of the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) results on orthopaedic practice.

The benefits of spinal surgery for relief of low back and leg pain in patients with degenerative spinal disorders have long been debated. The Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) was designed to address the need for high-quality, prospectively collected data in support of such interventions. SPORT was intended to provide an evidential basis for spinal surgery in appropriate patients, as well as comparative and cost-effectiveness data.

Spinal orthoses.

External orthoses are used in the management of a variety of spinal disorders. Many types of brace are available to support the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine as well as junctional regions, which have special mechanical considerations. Many prefabricated and custom-made devices are available, made by a variety of manufacturers in this unregulated area of medical practice.

Femoral head fractures: diagnosis, management, and complications.

Femoral head fractures occur with a reported incidence of 6%-16% after hip dislocation. Even the largest series have evaluated only a few dozen patients, often collecting experience from multiple centers. This article provides the clinician with current information to guide the diagnosis and treatment of this uncommon condition.

Biomechanical study of lumbar pedicle screws in a corpectomy model assessing significance of screw height.

Background: We tested the hypothesis that a pedicle screw construct's height is an important factor in strengthening a screw-rod system.

Methods: Six corpectomy constructs were made, each using two ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene blocks, 6.5-mm pedicle screws, and two 6.