Orthopedics

The orthopedics and sports medicine experiences for residents are divided into two separate blocks during the first year and third year. There are also lectures, workshops, and opportunities to assist with event coverage over the course of the residency.

Orthopedics

This one month rotation occurs the first year of residency. Goals of the rotation include:

• Conducting a complete orthopedic physical exam
• Gaining proficiency in joint aspiration and analysis of joint effusion
• Nonoperative management of contusions, sprains, and strains
• Learning basic casting splinting skills
• Injection/aspiration of tendon sheaths, joints, and bursae.
• Residents learn to prescribe appropriate exercises for strength training and evaluate and manage sports-related and recreational injuries.
• Basic interpretation of x-rays, and appreciation of the role of consultants in managing these conditions is taught.
• Clinical rotations take place with a general orthopedic surgeon, a hand surgeon, a primary care sports medicine physician, a chiropractor, and a podiatrist.

Sports Medicine

This one month rotation occurs during the third year of residency. The majority of this rotation is focused on sports medicine. Goals of the rotation are to demonstrate proficiency in the acute management of sports injuries, including:

•  Splinting and bracing
• Ordering imaging studies
• Prescription of medications
• Development of a rehabilitation program, to assess and manage athletes with chronic or congenital orthopedic problems
• To demonstrate competency in the evaluation of college students with athletic injuries from intramural, self-organized, and varsity activities.
• Residents learn and implement return-to-play criteria and functional testing for specific injuries and conditions, understand the strategies and techniques to perform a complete exam of the major joints and advance their understanding of radiologic studies of sports injuries.
• Residents also learn to interact with allied health professionals including physical therapists and certified athletic trainers (ATCs) in the development of a rehabilitation program for each injured athlete.

The majority of clinical exposure takes place with two primary care sports medicine physicians, both in the office and in the athletic training room of an area college. Further clinical time occurs in a physical therapy office. Opportunities for sports event coverage are available both during the rotation and over the course of the year.

In 2011, we established a Sports Medicine Fellowship; the presence of our fellow has added another layer to sports medicine education that enriches residents' experience.