Twitter as a communication tool for orthopedic surgery

Twitter is a social networking Web site that has changed the way information is communicated. This study involved identifying, categorizing, and reviewing orthopedic Twitter profiles. A total of 412 profiles were identified. Of those, 176 (50.3%) were surgeons; 89 (50.5%) were based in the United States and 77 (43.8%) were not (10 unclassified). Most surgeons were young; 66% of surgeons were board certified within the past 10 years. Only a small percentage of orthopedic surgeons and practices currently use Twitter, but the use of social networking for orthopedic communication is likely to play an increasing role in future clinical practice.