Your Surgeon Is Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Orthopaedics is the broad based medical and surgical specialty dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. The frequency and impact of these diseases and injuries combined with recent advances in their diagnosis and treatment make orthopaedics a critical part of health care. The areas of orthopaedic surgery include:

Pediatric Orthopaedics
Care of injuries, deformities and diseases of the bones, joints, muscles and tendons in children.

Sports Medicine
Care of injuries related to athletic activities.

Joint Replacement and Surgery in Arthritis
Care of patients with advanced arthritis including medical treatment, joint replacement and other procedures.

Foot and Ankle
Care of patients with injury and diseases of the foot and ankle.

Hand Surgery
Surgical and non-surgical treatment of the hand and wrist.

Shoulder and Elbow
Care of diseases and injuries of the shoulder and elbow.

Spine
Surgical and non-surgical treatment of deformities, injuries and disorders of the back and neck.

Trauma and Fractures
Treatment of injuries to the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, nerves and vessels in the arms, legs, back and neck.

Musculoskeletal Oncology
Treatment of benign and malignant tumors of bones, joints and muscles.

Rehabilitation
Short and long-term programs to improve strength and mobility and to optimize recovery.

Arthroscopy and Arthroscopic Surgery
Diagnosis and treatment of joint diseases and injuries using arthroscopic methods.

The orthopaedic surgeon works with many other surgical and medical specialists.

What Is Board Certification?
The Board Certification process includes the following components:

Educational
Must have graduated from an accredited medical school and passed all examinations necessary to receive an unrestricted medical license.

Must have satisfactorily completed five years of graduate orthopaedic surgery education in an accredited orthopaedic surgery residency program in the United States or Canada. The residency training must include experience with all age groups in operative and non-operative treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, diseases and deformities in pediatric orthopaedics, total joint and other arthritis surgery, sports medicine, the spine, foot and ankle, elbow and shoulder, hand, rehabilitation, fractures and other injuries, benign and malignant tumors of bone, joints and muscles and arthroscopy.

Examinations
After completing graduate orthopaedic surgery residency education a doctor must meet the following criteria to become certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery:

• Have a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States, its territories, government service or Canada.
• Pass the Part I examination, which is a written examination about the material taught during the residency training.
• Have completed 22 months of practice of operative orthopaedic surgery after successfully completing graduate education.
• Have demonstrated professional proficiency and ethical practice based on recommendations from physicians familiar with his/her practice.
• Pass the Part II examination, which is an oral examination based on a six month list of operative cases.