FMGE Orthopaedics Syllabus

Orthopaedics syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Orthopaedics in FMGE, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   General Orthopaedics

   3 topics

   • Introduction to Orthopaedics
     • History, scope, and importance in medical practice
   • Basic Principles of Orthopaedic Examination
     • History taking
     • Physical examination
     • Assessment of musculoskeletal function
   • Imaging Modalities in Orthopaedics
     • X-ray
     • CT scan
     • MRI
     • Ultrasound
     • Nuclear medicine imaging
2. 2

   Trauma and Fractures

   4 topics

   • Classification of fractures
     • Open vs. closed fractures
     • Displaced vs. nondisplaced fractures
     • Complete vs. incomplete fractures
   • Principles of fracture management
     • Closed reduction
     • Open reduction
     • Internal fixation
     • External fixation
     • Plaster immobilization
   • Complications of fractures
     • Delayed union
     • Nonunion
     • Malunion
     • Compartment syndrome
     • Infection
   • Fracture healing
     • Phases of fracture healing
     • Factors influencing healing
     • Principles of fracture fixation
3. 3

   Orthopaedic Disorders of the Upper Limb

   3 topics

   • Shoulder disorders
     • Rotator cuff injuries
     • Shoulder dislocation
     • Adhesive capsulitis
     • Shoulder impingement syndrome
   • Elbow disorders
     • Tennis elbow
     • Golfer's elbow
     • Elbow instability
   • Hand and wrist disorders
     • Carpal tunnel syndrome
     • Trigger finger
     • Dupuytren's contracture
     • De Quervain's tenosynovitis
4. 4

   Orthopaedic Disorders of the Lower Limb

   3 topics

   • Hip disorders
     • Osteoarthritis
     • avascular necrosis of the hip
     • hip fractures
     • hip dysplasia
   • Knee disorders
     • Osteoarthritis
     • meniscal injuries
     • ligamentous injuries (ACL, PCL)
     • patellofemoral syndrome
   • Ankle and foot disorders
     • Ankle sprain
     • Achilles tendon rupture
     • plantar fasciitis
     • hallux valgus (bunion)
5. 5

   Pediatric Orthopaedics

   3 topics

   • Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)
     • Screening
     • Diagnosis
     • Management of DDH in infants and children
   • Congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot)
     • Classification
     • Ponseti method
     • Surgical correction
   • Developmental disorders of the spine
     • Scoliosis
     • Kyphosis
     • Congenital vertebral anomalies
6. 6

   Orthopaedic Oncology

   3 topics

   • Primary Bone Tumors
     • Osteosarcoma
     • Chondrosarcoma
     • Ewing's Sarcoma
     • Giant Cell Tumor
   • Metastatic Bone Disease
     • Pathophysiology
     • Clinical Presentation
     • Management of Bone Metastases
   • Soft Tissue Tumors
     • Lipoma
     • Fibroma
     • Synovial Sarcoma
     • Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma
7. 7

   Sports Medicine

   3 topics

   • Sports-related injuries
     • Muscle strains
     • Ligament sprains
     • Tendonitis
     • Stress fractures
   • Overuse injuries
     • Runner's knee
     • Shin splints
     • Tennis elbow
     • Stress fractures
   • Rehabilitation and return to play
     • Physiotherapy
     • Strengthening exercises
     • Gradual progression of activities
8. 8

   Orthopaedic Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy

   3 topics

   • Principles of orthopaedic rehabilitation
     • Range of motion exercises
     • Strengthening exercises
     • Proprioceptive training
   • Modalities in orthopaedic physiotherapy
     • Heat therapy
     • Cold therapy
     • Ultrasound therapy
     • Electrical stimulation
     • Traction
   • Postoperative rehabilitation
     • Rehabilitation protocols following orthopaedic surgeries
     • Joint replacement
     • Ligament reconstruction
     • Fracture fixation
9. 9

   Orthopaedic Surgery Techniques

   3 topics

   • Arthroscopic Surgery
     • Indications
     • Techniques
     • Complications of arthroscopic procedures in various joints
   • Joint Replacement Surgery
     • Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)
     • Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)
     • Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (TSA)
   • Spinal Surgery
     • Decompression Procedures
     • Spinal Fusion
     • Instrumentation Techniques in the Management of Spinal Disorders
10. 10

    Orthopaedic Research and Evidence-Based Practice

    2 topics

    • Basics of orthopaedic research
      • Study design
      • Data collection
      • Statistical analysis
      • Interpretation of research findings
    • Evidence-based orthopaedics
      • Critical appraisal of research literature
      • Application of evidence-based guidelines
      • Practice-based learning

Orthopaedics flashcards for FMGE

22 of 52 cards from the Orthopaedics deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the definition of orthopaedics as a surgical specialty?

   The branch of surgery concerned with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves.

2. In the standard orthopaedic clinical examination sequence, what are the three steps and their conventional order?

   Look (inspection), Feel (palpation), Move (active then passive range of motion) - the 'Look, Feel, Move' approach, often followed by special tests and neurovascular assessment.

3. What does the SOAP / 'history-then-examination' principle emphasize regarding limb examination?

   Always examine the joint above and the joint below the area of complaint, compare with the contralateral (normal) side, and assess distal neurovascular status.

4. Which imaging modality is the first-line investigation for suspected fractures, and what is the minimum number of views required?

   Plain radiography (X-ray); at least two views taken at 90 degrees to each other (typically anteroposterior and lateral), including the joints above and below.

5. What is the imaging modality of choice for soft tissue injuries such as ligament, tendon, meniscal, and labral tears?

   Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), due to its superior soft-tissue contrast resolution and lack of ionizing radiation.

6. When is CT preferred over plain X-ray in orthopaedic imaging?

   For complex fractures (e.g., intra-articular, pelvic, spinal, calcaneal), assessing bony detail, fracture comminution, and surgical planning where 3D reconstruction helps.

7. What is the difference between a complete and an incomplete (greenstick) fracture?

   A complete fracture involves disruption of both cortices across the entire bone width; an incomplete (greenstick) fracture breaks one cortex while the other bends, typically seen in children.

8. Define a compound (open) fracture versus a simple (closed) fracture.

   In an open (compound) fracture the fracture site communicates with the external environment through a skin/mucosal breach; in a closed (simple) fracture the overlying skin is intact.

9. What does the Gustilo-Anderson classification describe, and how many types/grades does it have?

   It classifies open (compound) fractures by wound size, soft-tissue damage, and contamination: Type I (<1 cm clean), Type II (1-10 cm), Type III (>10 cm or high energy), with IIIA, IIIB (needs soft-tissue coverage), and IIIC (vascular injury requiring repair).

10. What are the descriptive terms for fracture displacement patterns?

    Translation (shift), angulation, rotation, and shortening (impaction/distraction); described as the position of the distal fragment relative to the proximal fragment.

11. What are the four R's that summarize the principles of fracture management?

    Resuscitation, Reduction, Restriction (immobilization/holding), and Rehabilitation (sometimes stated as Reduce, Hold, Rehabilitate).

12. What is the difference between closed reduction and open reduction of a fracture?

    Closed reduction realigns fracture fragments without surgical exposure (manipulation/traction); open reduction surgically exposes the fracture to achieve alignment, usually followed by internal fixation (ORIF).

13. What does 'absolute stability' versus 'relative stability' mean in fracture fixation?

    Absolute stability is rigid fixation with no interfragmentary motion, leading to primary (direct) bone healing (e.g., lag screw, compression plate); relative stability allows controlled micromotion, leading to secondary healing with callus (e.g., intramedullary nail, bridging plate).

14. What is the difference between primary and secondary fracture healing?

    Primary (direct) healing occurs with rigid fixation and anatomic reduction via direct cortical/Haversian remodeling without callus; secondary (indirect) healing occurs with relative stability via callus formation through endochondral and intramembranous ossification.

15. List the four overlapping stages of secondary fracture healing in order.

    1) Hematoma/inflammation, 2) Soft (fibrocartilaginous) callus formation, 3) Hard (bony) callus formation, 4) Remodeling.

16. What is the difference between delayed union, malunion, and nonunion?

    Delayed union = healing slower than expected but still progressing; malunion = healing in a non-anatomic (deformed) position; nonunion = failure of healing with no progression toward union (often defined as >6-9 months without healing).

17. Name the early local and systemic complications of fractures.

    Local early: vascular injury, nerve injury, compartment syndrome, infection. Systemic early: hemorrhage/hypovolemic shock, fat embolism syndrome, ARDS, deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism.

18. What is compartment syndrome and what is the classic symptom that heralds it?

    A surgical emergency where increased pressure within an osteofascial compartment compromises perfusion; the earliest/most reliable sign is pain out of proportion, worsened by passive stretch of the muscles in that compartment (one of the 6 P's).

19. What are the 6 P's of acute compartment syndrome / limb ischemia?

    Pain (out of proportion, on passive stretch), Paresthesia, Pallor, Pulselessness, Paralysis, and Poikilothermia (coldness). Pain and paresthesia are early; pulselessness and paralysis are late.

20. What is Volkmann's ischemic contracture and which injury classically causes it?

    A permanent flexion contracture of the wrist and fingers from untreated forearm compartment syndrome/ischemia of the flexor muscles; classically follows a supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children.

21. What is the most common direction of shoulder (glenohumeral) dislocation and the nerve most at risk?

    Anterior dislocation is most common (~95%); the axillary nerve is most at risk, tested by sensation over the 'regimental badge' area of the lateral deltoid.

22. What is the difference between a Bankart lesion and a Hill-Sachs lesion?

    A Bankart lesion is an avulsion/tear of the anteroinferior glenoid labrum; a Hill-Sachs lesion is a compression (impaction) fracture of the posterolateral humeral head - both result from anterior shoulder dislocation.

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