Surgical Sub-Specialty in Orthopedics

Catalog Description: The orthopedic surgery selective consists of 2- or 4-week rotations concentrating on the areas of general orthopedics, sports medicine, and pediatric orthopedics. This is an introductory level course and appropriate for students seeking additional clinical training in the diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal pathology. Each selective will be geared toward the students’ desired orthopedic interest and will allow for greater variability in the student's overall experience.  Students will spend the majority of their rotation in the ambulatory clinic with primary care sports medicine physicians and orthopedic surgeons. Students will participate in didactic conferences at their rotation site, and will make a formal presentation on an orthopedic topic of their interest during one of the conference sessions.

Sites: 

View site addresses by clicking on the site name below or visiting the site codes table.

Required session attendance: Does not apply

Typical weekly schedule/Delivery Mode: M-F, 7:00am-5:30pm

Direct patient care: Yes

Consent Requirement: Open to student scheduling. Two-credit version of course is the default for scheduling for Duluth and Fairview. Contact the course coordinator to schedule the four week version of this course. Four-credit version of the course is the default for scheduling for the VAMC due to onboarding constraints. Two-credit version of the course is not available at the VAMC.

Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Perform an adequate orthopaedic history
• Perform a physical examination of the musculoskeletal system, including assessment of joint motion 
• Develop a differential diagnosis of common orthopedic conditions 
• Outline a treatment plan to establish the proper diagnosis of common orthopedic conditions 
• Apply splints for common extremity injuries 
• Apply casts for common extremity injuries 
• Apply a grading scale to measure muscle strength of major muscle groups of the extremities 
• Use proper terminology to describe signs, symptoms and treatment of common injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system 
• Identify imaging studies to support diagnosis 
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare providers 
• Select appropriate laboratory tests to support diagnosis 
• Function effectively as a member of an interprofessional healthcare team across various clinical settings
• Reflect on your current knowledge base, identifying strengths and areas for improvement 
• Demonstrate a commitment to ethical principles appropriate to the profession of orthopedics 
• Articulate a plan for professional growth

Graded Components: 

• Final rotation evaluation, Master GRS Form, 80%
• Presentation evaluation, 20%

Grading Scale: P/N

Allow repetition of course: Repetition not allowed

Course equivalency: Does not apply