Journal

May 5, 2025

How to Prepare for Orthopedic Surgery Residency While in Medical School

Authors: Emily Jagenburg, Bill Woodhams, Marquisha Myles MD, Alfred Bayaton, Drew Albert MD MBA Preparing for orthopedic surgery residency can seem overwhelming, especially when trying to find research opportunities and mentorship. Whether you’re an eager pre-medical student or a few months from applying, the following tips can help you build a strong orthopedic surgery application…

December 31, 2023

Ortho Acronyms

October 6, 2023

How to Splint a Wrist Fracture

Distal Radius Fracture Notes: Confirming Appropriate Reduction Use these numbers to evaluate your reduction. Also, always get a new set of formal xrays after your reduction (fluoro is not saved at our institution, take a picture on your phone if you want to demonstrate that you were able to obtain your reduction). Evaluating key anatomical…

July 24, 2023

How to Read Wrist Xrays

Have a System for Reading Wrist Xrays AP Wrist Xray: Assess the quality Distal Radius Angles (Facebook) Gilula Lines (Wikipedia) Distal Radioulnar Joint (DRUJ) (Llyas JAAOS, 2008). Ulnar Variance (Radiopaedia, 2022) Lateral Xray: Assess the Quality (Boyer, 2001) (Wikiradiography) Capitate, Lunate, and Radius in Line on the Lateral (Ryan Christie on Twitter) (Wikipedia) Scaphoid Position…

August 22, 2021

8/22/21: Orthopedic Surgery Mentorship

Thanks for reading our newsletter! This is a collection of the things happening around our community, news in the ortho, business and tech worlds, and other great things we are thinking about and learning! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out on Twitter or check out our website at orthoconditioning.com. Upcoming OrthoForge…

July 19, 2021

7/18/21 Newsletter: Unstable Intertrochanteric Femur Fractures

Thanks for reading our newsletter! This is a collection of the things happening around our community, news in the ortho, business and tech worlds, and other great things we are thinking about and learning! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out on Twitter or check out our website at orthoconditioning.com. Recent Posts Ortho Trauma Survival…

July 5, 2021

Ortho Trauma Survival Guide

General Ortho Trauma Rotation Tips Know Pertinent history- make sure you know the patient’s medical problems (just write them down on your sheet so you don’t have to think in conference) especially heart history (attendings will ask if you think they need cardiology clearance), blood thinners (which one and why they are on it, when…

July 5, 2021

7/4/21 Newsletter: Tibial Plateau Fractures and Vascular Injury

Thanks for reading our newsletter! This document is a collection of the things happening around our community, news in the ortho, business and tech worlds, and other great things we are thinking about and learning! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out on Twitter or check out our website at orthoconditioning.com. Recent Posts Ortho Forge…

July 5, 2021

6/4/21 Newsletter: Humeral Shaft Fractures Discussion

June 14, 2021

Distal Radius Reduction Technique

Distal Radius Reduction Technique Important Concepts to Know System for Reading distal radius xrays Knowing important reduction criteria such as: LaFontaines Criteria Operative indications for distal radius fractures Distal radius Case discussion Discussion with the patient Gather HPI, pertinent history, side of their dominant hand. Explain the plan “Hematoma block vs. sedation plan” Future plan…

February 28, 2021

The Ortho Rotation Handbook

Away rotations are an unforgiving test in emotional intelligence. Read the room, try to know the attendings and their research, and the residents. Be well prepared for the surgeries. Look at Hoppenfeld, Wiesel Operative Techniques, and the AO Surgery Reference. Look for those books at your university library. In my opinion, Netters is great,…

January 14, 2021

Femoral Neck Fracture Management

Femoral neck fractures are a common pathology within orthopedic trauma surgery. The surgical management is dictated by fracture location, as well as other factors such as stability. These indications are often a hot topic for pimping questions from attendings and residents. In this post, we’ll discuss the important workup and surgical options for femoral neck…

November 21, 2020

Ortho OR Instruments

Attached to this post are some helpful flash cards that will help you memorize important names of instruments commonly used in orthopedic surgeries, especially in trauma. The PDF version is also listed in case you don’t use Anki. Ortho OR Instruments Anki Deck & PDF

August 24, 2020

Ortho Trauma Supplies

Here is a list of ortho trauma supplies for some of the most frequently performed procedures. Having a bag or fanny pack might look funny, but having the supplies directly on hand can be really helpful to residents! Full item list for Fanny Pack or bag 10cc syringe 18 gauge needles Band aids Tape Chlorehexidine…

July 16, 2020

Need to Know Criteria and Classification Systems

There are many classification systems within orthopedics. Here are the systems that we have found are commonly discussed in fracture conference that would be good to be familiar with for your ortho trauma rotations. Gustillo-Anderson Classification (For Open Fractures) Type 1 Laceration <1cm in diameter Type 2 Laceration >1cm <10cm without signs of high energy…

June 22, 2020

Checklists: Admission, Pre-Op and Post-Op

How to Use Checklists: The Do-and-Verify Method Do all these pre-op or post-op tasks by memory. Then go through each point on a real checklist (phone or paper) to double check that you did it. Be systematic and consistent (This is how I was trained for doing pre-flight checks before flying). The safety in…

June 21, 2020

Describing Fractures

Format Say the views you are seeing and the laterality, if you are unsure of the view just say 1 or 2-view of a left or right “blank”. Look for open physes to say, “skeletally mature or immature individual”. Starting out this a good practice, when you are a resident it may not be necessary…

May 29, 2020

Traction Pin Guide

When to Place Distal Femoral Traction This can vary based on institution. It is important to consider the fact that pretty sick patients may not be able to tolerate a surgery and skeletal traction can be a viable damage control method for provisionally treating patients. Here is the list of what our institution commonly uses…

May 28, 2020

Gunshot Wound to Thigh

Credit: OrthoBoss “45M gangster presenting with gunshot wound (GSW) to the left thigh after drug deal gone wrong. No other injuries. Physical examination demonstrates small entry and exit wounds.” How would you describe this fracture? What was the velocity of the projectile, high or low? Any more imaging that you would want…

May 27, 2020

Basics of Orthopedic Trauma Fixation

Orthopedic Trauma Basic Principles Goals of orthopedic surgeons when fixing fractures Reduce fractures restoring length and alignment Fracture fixation with absolute or relative stability Preserving blood supply and soft tissue envelope No soft tissue envelope = little to no blood supply Must be careful to not expose more than absolutely necessary All for the sake…

May 24, 2020

Systematic Way to Read Foot Xrays

Here we go. Foot xrays. There are alot of details that could be discussed here. This is a good starting point. Commonly in three views. AP, oblique and lateral. Shown below in order. Remember: Say what views you are seeing. Look for open growth plates and say whether the image is skeletally mature or immature…

May 4, 2020

Distal Radius Case: Vet Fell Off His Bike

50 year old vet fell off his bike. What do you see? What would you do in the emergency room for this? Remember to use a system for reading your xrays. Read this post if you haven’t yet: System for reading wrist xrays Updates with answers coming later this week! Please comment below to weigh…

May 3, 2020

The Ortho Patient Interview Guide

Timing Timing is so important. Orthopedic residents must be time efficient when seeing consults because procedures can take so long and it is easy for your list to grow quickly. Aim for keeping your patient interview around <4 minutes and your whole interaction <8-10 minutes. Of course this will vary depending on this situation, but…