Orthopaedic training worldwide: how they compare? A pilot study

Advances in Orthopaedics and changing concepts should result in regular review and if necessary restructuring of training programmes periodically to accommodate these changes. However, most countries have orthopaedic training programmes which have remained unchanged over decades. There is very little information available in the literature concerning orthopaedic training programmes worldwide.

The aim of this study was to collect information concerning various training programmes worldwide for comparison. The top ten countries by population and all G8 countries were selected. A survey in the form of a questionnaire was disseminated to a selection of trainees and trainers from these countries and responses tabulated for analysis. Significant variation was evident in training structure, time spent on training and training environment.

There is a need for constant monitoring of training programmes worldwide to accommodate the ever-changing world of Orthopaedics which could potentially be of mutual benefit to trainees, trainers and the population at large of the countries involved.