OTE200: Traumatology specialty

Should orthopaedic surgery and traumatology be combined in academic departments, hospitals and musculoskeletal societies?

Issue: Issue 2 2012

OTE200: Traumatology

Perspective from Roberto Binazzi, MD

A note from the editors: The OTE200 is a group of approximately 200 European orthopaedic practitioners, educators and researchers whose opinions we poll each month. If you would like to be considered for membership, please send a request to orthopaedics@healio.com.

Perspective

Roberto Binazzi, MD

Today orthopaedics and traumatology are separate worlds requiring different backgrounds, necessities, instrumentation, etc. Therefore, it is practically impossible for the same person to follow both specialties. The training of a traumatologist, in fact, is quite unique and involves being an emergency surgeon and staying strictly interconnected with general, vascular and neuro surgery. An orthopaedic surgeon has a different formation and even mentality.

Moreover, with the large increase in number of total joint replacements, orthopaedic patients must be kept separate from the traumatic ones to minimize the high risk of infection.

Roberto Binazzi, MD

Chairman, Department of Orthopaedics and Hip Surgery

University of Bologna

Italy

Disclosures: Binazzi has no relevant financial disclosures.