Hip replacement surgery is done by an orthopaedic surgeon. An orthopaedic surgeon is a physician trained in the care of problems and diseases of the muscu-loskeletal system.
The term orthopaedic was first used by Nicholas Andry, a professor of medicine at the University of Paris. It is derived from Greek words, which literally mean straight child. In 1741, Andry published a book called Orthopaedia or the Art of Correcting and Preventing Deformities in Children.
Since that time the term orthopaedic has come in to common use to describe physicians and surgeons who take care of muscu-loskeletal problems.
While the primary focus of orthopaedic care is bones, orthopaedic surgeons treat disease of structures around the bones as well. These include joints, muscles, ten-dons, ligaments, and nerves.
It takes a long time to become an orthopaedic surgeon. At the start, an orthopaedic surgeon goes to college for 4 years to earn his bachelors degree. He or she then goes on for another 4 years to an accredited medical school. After graduating medical school, a physician can be licensed to practice but does not have training in any specialty.
Most orthopaedic surgeons do 5 years of residency. The term resident came about because years ago most doctors in training lived at the hospital where they worked. Now residents often rotate through several hospitals as part of an orthopaedic residency program. As a rule, they sleep in the hospital only on nights when they take call. The first year consists of training in general surgery and surgical related fields or subspecialties. This includes both learning how to do surgery and taking care of hospital patients with surgical diseases.
For the next four years, training is mainly in orthopaedic surgery. There are rotations through many different areas of orthopaedic surgery, including fractures and trauma, pediatric problems, hand, sports medicine, foot and ankle, shoulder and elbow, arthroscopy, tumors, and joint replacement. Training involves not only surgery but caring for sick hospital patients, outpatient clinics, and rehabilitation following orthopaedic surgery.
Some residents spend extra time during their training doing laboratory research.
After residency, surgeons may take an additional year of fellowship at another hospital or university in a specific area such as joint replacement, trauma, or sports medicine.
Most orthopaedic surgeons become board certified. An orthopaedic surgeon who is board certified is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. This is one of twenty-four subspecialty boards under the American Board of Medical Specialties.
Surgeons who have passed board requirements have met a high standard of subspecialty qualification. Certification is not a license but many hospitals make board certification a requirement for maintaining hospital privileges.
In order to be board certified, an orthopaedic surgeon must first pass a written exam, then an oral examina-tion which can be taken only after 22 months of clinical practice. Certification is also based on recommenda-tions from fellow orthopaedic surgeons, department chairman, and hospital chiefs of staff.
Board certification is a time-limited process. Orthopaedic surgeons must re-certify every 10 years.
After certification, an orthopaedic surgeon may become a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Osteopathic physicians may be certified by the Ameri-can Osteopathic Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.