The Competitiveness of Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Programs: A Twenty-year Analysis Utilizing a Normalized...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Orthopaedic surgery residency programs face increasing applicant interest.
• Assessing program competitiveness requires nuanced metrics beyond simple match rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze orthopaedic surgery residency applicant trends over two decades using a novel normalized competitive index (NCI).
• To evaluate the evolving competitiveness of orthopaedic surgery residency programs.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) data (2003-2022).
• Calculation of a competitive index (CI) based on ranked programs, available positions, and match rates.
• Normalization of the CI to create an NCI for trend analysis.

Main Results:

• The NCI showed a significant upward trend over 20 years, indicating increasing program competitiveness.
• Total applicants nearly doubled, while residency positions saw minimal growth.
• USMLE scores and research output of matched applicants significantly increased.
• The match rate remained stable until a notable decrease in 2022.

Conclusions:

• The NCI effectively demonstrates the growing competitiveness of orthopaedic surgery residency.
• Match rates alone are insufficient; a comprehensive index including applicant metrics offers better insights.
• The findings provide a clearer outlook for future orthopaedic surgery residency applicants.