How to Pursue a Career in Orthopedics?

Answer 1

Thanks to the increased aging of the population, careers in the field of orthopedics, the medical specialty dealing with the musculoskeletal system and its care, are expected to offer more opportunities within the next decade than many other fields. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system involve those dealing with the bones, muscles, nerves, ligaments and joints.

The most popular and lucrative career is orthopedics is as an orthopedic surgeon, which takes about 14 years of study from obtaining a medical degree through internship and residency. Many orthopedic surgeons following a successful residency continue their study to specialize in a particular area of the body, including foot and ankle, hand/elbow/shoulder, hip and joint replacement surgery, spinal surgery, and sports medicine dealing with injuries brought about by participation in collegiate or professional sports.

The average salary for a skilled orthopedic surgeon in the U.S. is around $300,000, with some specialists such as orthopedic surgeons specializing in the spine, able to command more than a million dollars in annual income.

Another attractive specialty in orthopedics is orthopedic nursing, that branch of nursing specializing in the prevention, correction and treatment of musculoskeletal deformaties. An orthopedic nurse is responsible for helping patients both before and after orthopedic surgery, educating patients about corrective orthopedic equipment as well as monitoring the correct usage of such equipment, along with providing pain management for those who have undergone such surgical procedures as hip or knee replacement or spinal surgery, and monitoring treatment after sports injuries that require casts, braces or splints.

In addition to a nursing degree, a career in orthopedic nursing requires additional study leading to certification in orthopedic nursing. Much like orthopedic surgeons, many orthopedic nurses eventually specialize in a specific area such as pediatrics, gerontology, surgery, sports medicine, emergency department or patient education. The annual income for a nurse having orthopedic nursing certification ranges between $60,000 and $90,000 depending upon experience and specialty.

Sports medicine is an increasingly popular area of orthopedic careers and can include becoming a physician who practices non-surgical orthpedics or training to become an allied health professional such as a certified athletic trainer who works as part of an orthpedic team along with the coach, physician and orthopedic surgeon when an injury occurs. Salaries as a sports medicine physician average $230,000 annually.

Becoming a physical therapist is another way of pursuing a career in orthopedics, with therapists undergoing specialized training in order to work with patients suffering musculoskeletal injuries or deformities, as well as patients who have undergoing surgery and require post-surgical therapy. Beginning salaries for a physical therapist start around $50,000.