Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric

Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and prevent rheumatic and other diseases in the musculoskeletal system.

Interest Profile (RIASEC)

Common Job Titles

Key Tasks

Analyze patient's medical history, medication allergies, physical condition, and examination results to verify operation's necessity and to determine best procedure.

Conduct research to develop and test surgical techniques that can improve operating procedures and outcomes related to musculoskeletal injuries and diseases.

Diagnose bodily disorders and orthopedic conditions, and provide treatments, such as medicines and surgeries, in clinics, hospital wards, or operating rooms.

Diagnose or treat disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, assistants, specialists, residents, and other medical staff.

Examine instruments, equipment, and operating room to ensure sterility.

Examine patient to obtain information on medical condition and surgical risk.

Follow established surgical techniques during the operation.

Manage surgery services, including planning, scheduling and coordination, determination of procedures, or procurement of supplies and equipment.

Operate on patient's musculoskeletal system to correct deformities, repair injuries, prevent and treat diseases, or improve or restore patient's functions.

Order and interpret the results of laboratory tests and diagnostic imaging procedures.

Prepare case histories.

Prescribe preoperative and postoperative treatments and procedures, such as sedatives, diets, antibiotics, or preparation and treatment of the patient's operative area.

Provide consultation and surgical assistance to other physicians and surgeons.

Refer patient to medical specialist or other practitioners when necessary.

Technology Skills

Medical software

Electronic medical record EMR software
Epic Systems
MEDITECH software
Three-dimensional 3D virtual surgery software

Graphics or photo imaging software

Computer imaging software

Operating system software

Microsoft Windows

Human resources software

Human resources management system HRMS

Tools and Equipment

Surgical clamps or clips or forceps

Dressing forceps
Splinter forceps
Tumor forceps
Vascular clips

Surgical retractors

Cervical retractors
Lip retractors
Urology retractors
Vein retractors

Surgical pneumatic or battery or electric saws or drills or pin drivers

Craniotome drills
Sternal saws
Surgical power drills
Surgical power saws

Electrosurgical or electrocautery equipment

Argon beam coagulators
Biopolar cautery equipment
Electrosurgery units
Harmonic scalpels

Surgical scissors

Enterotomy scissors
Thoracic scissors
Tonsil scissors
Uterine scissors

Surgical microscopes or loupes or magnifiers

Ceiling mounted microscopes
ENT microscopes
Portable surgical microscopes
Surgical microscopes

Surgical suction machine or vacuum extractor or ultrasonic surgical aspirator

Cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirators CUSA
Suction machines
Surgical aspirators
Wells Johnson aspirators

Surgical lasers

Carbon dioxide CO2 lasers
Holmium lasers
Laser dopplers
Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet Nd:YAG lasers

Surgical dermatomes or dermabraders or dermameshers

Dermatomes
Padgett dermatomes
Zimmer dermatomes

Cystoscopes or cystourethroscopes

Cystoscopes
Flexible ureteroscopes
Rigid ureteroscopes

Surgical power equipment sets

Hip arthroplasty robots
Robotic arms
Surgical robots

Surgical calipers or rulers or protractors

Surgical calipers
Surgical rulers

Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles

Automated external defibrillators AED
Internal defibrillators

Operating room patient fracture tables or orthopedic tables

External fixators
Fracture tables

Medical staplers for external use

Skin staplers

Surgical lithotripters

Ultrasonic lithotripters

Endoscopic catheter adapters

Endoscopic catheters

Vein harvest kits or systems

Endoscope vein harvesting equipment

Irrigation or suction handpieces or cannulas or tips or catheters

Suction tips

Surgical drapes

Sterile drapes

Electrocardiography EKG units

Electrocardiography EKG machines

Heart and lung machines

Cardiopulmonary bypass pumps

Pulse oximeter units

Pulse oximeters

Vascular sequential compression devices or tubing

Sequential compression devices

Operating room patient positioning devices for general use

Mayfield headrests

Surgical extractors

Stone extractors

Uterine devices

Hysteroscopes

Radiosurgical gamma knife units or scintillators

Radiosurgical gamma knives

Surgical perfusion cannulas or catheters

Balloon perfusion catheters

Surgical drivers

Surgical hand drivers

Diagnostic or interventional vascular catheters for general use

Pulmonary artery catheters

Surgical hammers or mallets

Surgical mallets

Cryosurgery units

Cryoprobes

Facial shields

Protective eye shields

Surgical elevators or levers

Surgical elevators

Operating room patient procedure tables

Andrews tables

Urological surgical instrument sets

Optical urethrotomes

Surgical rongeurs

Bone ronguers

Medical ultrasound or doppler or pulse echocardiograph or echocardiograph units for general diagnostic use

Diagnostic ultrasound equipment

Surgical pneumatic or electric tourniquets

Surgical tourniquets

Colposcopes or vaginoscopes

Colposcopes

General surgical instrument sets

Autologous blood recovery systems

Central venous catheters

Subclavian lines

Surgical bone cutting forceps

Bone-cutting forceps

Surgical probes or directors

Tactile probes

Autotransfusion units

Cell savers

Cardiac output CO monitoring units

Hemodynamic monitors

Surgical scalpels or knives or blades or trephines

Surgical scalpels

Surgical isolation or surgical masks

Surgical masks

Surgical punches or punch holders

Biopsy punches

Laparoscopes or laparoscopic telescopes

Laparascopes

Peritoneoscopes

Periosteotomes

Patient controlled analgesia infusion pumps

Patient controlled analgesia PCA pumps

Surgical spreaders

Rib spreaders

Surgical bone hand saws or wire saws or saw handles

Surgical hand saws

Intravenous tubing with catheter administration kits

Intravenous IV equipment

Endoscopic instrument sets

Flexible fiberoptic endoscopes

Surgical smoke evacuators

Operating room smoke evacuators

Eyemagnets for ophthalmic surgery

Eye magnets

Vascular occluder or ligator

Vascular occluders

Medical x ray units for general diagnostic use

Portable x ray machines

Surgical trocars for general use

Surgical trocars

Suture needles

Surgical suture needles

Ophthalmic surgery instrument sets

Vitrector sets

Endoscopic insufflation or distention units or accessories

Endoscopic insufflators

Surgical chisels or gouges

Bone chisels

Diathermy units

Diathermy equipment

Surgical curettes or loops or curette sets

Surgical curettes

Endoscopic video cameras or recorders or adapters or accessories

Endoscopic video cameras

Endoscopic clamp or dissector or grasper or forceps

Laparascopic graspers

Oxygen therapy delivery system products

Oxygen administration equipment

Medical staplers for internal use

Bowel stapling equipment

Surgical irrigation sets

Irrigation tubing

Surgical taps

Arterial line catheters

Surgical dilators

Surgical rasps or files

Surgical speculas

Surgical needle holders

Digital cameras

Surgical gloves

Bronchoscopes

Resectoscopes

Desktop computers

Personal computers

Surgical nippers

Surgical nerve stimulators

Detailed Work Activities

Diagnose medical conditions.

Operate on patients to treat conditions.

Prescribe medications.

Advise medical personnel regarding healthcare issues.

Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals.

Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.

Assist healthcare practitioners during surgery.

Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.

Examine patients to assess general physical condition.

Follow protocols or regulations for healthcare activities.

Manage healthcare operations.

Order medical diagnostic or clinical tests.

Order medical supplies or equipment.

Prescribe treatments or therapies.

Record patient medical histories.

Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources.

Schedule patient procedures or appointments.

Sterilize medical equipment or instruments.

Supervise patient care personnel.

Treat chronic diseases or disorders.

Job Zone

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, physician assistants, and veterinarians.

SVP Range: (8.0 and above)