Orthopaedic Surgeon

Orthopaedic surgeons are trained to treat disorders affecting bones, muscles, and ligaments. Some orthopaedic surgeons specialize in the spine.

Like other doctors, orthopaedic surgeons attend many years of school. After 4 years of college plus 4 years of medical school, they complete 5 years as student surgeons. During this time they learn all about orthopaedics including patient care, trauma, bone disease, laboratory tests, x-rays, braces, and how the body moves. After 5 years as a student surgeon, they must pass difficult tests to become a licensed orthopaedic surgeon.

Orthopaedic surgeons, who specialize in treating disorders affecting the spine, are Fellowship Trained. During this training they work with older more experienced orthopaedic spinal surgeons. A Fellowship is one to two years long.

After 15 years of school to become an orthopaedic surgeon, they continue their education through special courses. This is how an orthopaedic surgeon learns about new discoveries in medicine.