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Studies & Degrees in Orthopaedics

Orthopaedics, spelled orthopedics in American English, is the surgical specialty that deals with the musculoskeletal system. According to NHS Health Careers, trauma and orthopaedic surgeons diagnose and treat conditions of the bones and joints and of the structures that enable movement, such as ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves. In Spain the specialty is called Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología, and its official programme covers prevention, diagnosis, surgical and non-surgical treatment and follow-up until function is restored.

Orthopaedics is not a first degree. An orthopaedic surgeon first qualifies as a doctor and then trains in the specialty in a hospital. A different and shorter route leads to orthotics and prosthetics, the design and fitting of braces and artificial limbs.

What trainees learn

The work has two sides. Trauma covers broken, fractured or dislocated bones and soft tissue injuries. Elective orthopaedic work includes the replacement of whole joints such as knees and hips, and the treatment of congenital and degenerative conditions. NHS Health Careers notes that surgeons spend around 40% of their time in surgery and the rest in clinics, the emergency department and patient assessment.

After general training, many surgeons concentrate on one area. The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Saint Louis University lists these major subspecialties:

  • trauma
  • spine
  • joint reconstruction
  • orthopaedic oncology
  • shoulder and elbow
  • foot and ankle
  • paediatric orthopaedics
  • sports medicine

Qualifications and levels

  • United States. Physicians and surgeons typically need a bachelor's degree and a medical degree, which takes an additional 4 years. The American College of Surgeons describes the orthopaedic surgery residency as one year in a broadly based patient-related programme plus four years in orthopaedic surgery. A fellowship of 1 to 3 years follows for subspecialties such as hand surgery. Saint Louis University, for example, takes five orthopaedic residents per year and also runs an orthopaedic traumatology fellowship.
  • United Kingdom. A medical degree normally lasts five years and is followed by a two-year foundation programme. Specialty training in trauma and orthopaedic surgery then takes a minimum of eight years.
  • Spain. The bachelor's degree (grado) in Medicine has 360 ECTS credits; at the Universidad de Salamanca it is taught over 6 years at 60 ECTS per year. Clinical specialties are obtained through the MIR residency system, and the official programme for Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología lasts 5 years.
  • Orthotics and prosthetics. In Spain this is a higher vocational training (FP) qualification, Técnico Superior en Ortoprótesis y Productos de Apoyo, of 2,000 hours. Students learn to design orthoses, external prostheses and support products to a doctor's prescription. In the United States, orthotists and prosthetists typically need a master's degree, which takes about 2 years after a bachelor's degree, and a residency.

Where to study it

The SpainExchange directory lists 18 schools for orthopaedics. Six are in the United States and two in Ukraine. Spain, Nigeria, Nepal, Ethiopia, India, Mexico, Switzerland, Russia, Venezuela and the United Kingdom have one each. Most are universities with a medical faculty and teaching hospitals, where orthopaedics is taught as part of the medical degree and offered as postgraduate specialty training.

Specialty training is paid clinical work, so access is regulated in each country. Applicants with a foreign medical degree should ask the school and the national medical regulator which exams, registration and language level are required.

Careers

Orthopaedic surgeons work in general hospitals, specialist centres and orthopaedic hospitals, and can also teach or do research. There are currently 2,654 trauma and orthopaedic surgeons working in the NHS in England, according to NHS Health Careers. Training places are contested: in 2020 there were 715 applications for 125 specialty training places in the United Kingdom.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish a separate projection for orthopaedic surgeons. For physicians and surgeons as a whole it counted 862,800 jobs in 2025 and projects growth of 4 percent from 2025 to 2035; all states require them to be licensed. For orthotists and prosthetists it counted 9,500 jobs in 2025 and projects growth of 13 percent over the same period.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study orthopaedics as a bachelor's degree?

No. Orthopaedics is a specialty for qualified doctors. Students first complete a medical degree and then apply for specialty training in a hospital. Orthotics and prosthetics is a separate, non-medical route.

How long does it take to become an orthopaedic surgeon?

In the United States the residency is one general year plus four years in orthopaedic surgery, after college and four years of medical school. In Spain the degree in Medicine has 360 ECTS credits and the specialty programme lasts 5 years. In the United Kingdom specialty training takes a minimum of eight years after the foundation programme.

What is the difference between orthopaedics and traumatology?

They are two parts of the same specialty. Trauma deals with injuries such as fractures and dislocations, and orthopaedics with joint replacement and congenital or degenerative conditions. In Spain and the United Kingdom both are combined in one training programme.

What can I study if I want to make prostheses and orthoses?

In Spain, the higher vocational qualification Técnico Superior en Ortoprótesis y Productos de Apoyo lasts 2,000 hours. In the United States, orthotists and prosthetists typically complete a master's degree and a residency.