ABOS Orthopaedic Sports Medicine study guide
ABOS Orthopaedic Sports Medicine · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Subspecialty Certificate in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine is issued by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery to board-certified orthopaedic surgeons who demonstrate qualifications in sports medicine beyond those expected of other orthopaedic surgeons, through additional training, a practice with a high volume of sports medicine cases, and contributions to the field. Applicants must have completed a one-year ACGME-accredited fellowship in orthopaedic sports medicine and must submit a one-year case list of at least 115 operative and 10 non-operative cases; 75 of the operative cases must involve arthroscopy. The ABOS Orthopaedic Sports Medicine study guide has 10 sections and about 2,564 words.
01Shoulder
A candidate must master shoulder instability, rotator cuff pathology, the SLAP/biceps complex, acromioclavicular joint injury, adhesive capsulitis, glenohumeral arthritis, and nerve injuries around the shoulder. Know the difference between traumatic anterior instability and multidirectional laxity; the apprehension-relocation test and its modifications; and the roles of glenoid bone loss and Hill-Sachs lesions.
283 words, about 1 min02Elbow
Understand valgus extension overload, ulnar collateral ligament injury, distal biceps and triceps ruptures, medial and lateral epicondylitis, cubital tunnel syndrome, radial head fractures, elbow dislocation, and the terrible triad. In throwing athletes, link medial elbow pain to UCL insufficiency, posteromedial impingement, and osteophyte formation.
283 words, about 1 min03Wrist and Hand
Master scaphoid fractures, perilunate and lunate injuries, scapholunate ligament tears, TFCC pathology, carpal tunnel syndrome, De Quervain tenosynovitis, trigger finger, Dupuytren contracture, mallet finger, jersey finger, boxer fractures, gamekeeper thumb, and Seymour fractures. Know the anatomy of the carpal rows, the scaphoid blood supply, and the flexor tendon zones.
279 words, about 1 min04Hip and Pelvis
Understand femoroacetabular impingement, labral tears, hip dysplasia, proximal hamstring injuries, sports hernia/athletic pubalgia, slipped capital femoral epiphysis, Perthes disease, pelvic ring injuries, and hip dislocation. Know cam and pincer morphology, the acetabular labrum, and the concept of chondrolabral junction injury.
257 words, about 1 min05Knee
Know ACL, PCL, and multiligament injuries; meniscal tears and repair principles; patellar instability and MPFL injury; osteochondral lesions and OCD; extensor mechanism injuries; and knee dislocation. Understand the pivot shift, Lachman, posterior drawer, dial test, and patellar apprehension tests.
256 words, about 1 min06Foot and Ankle
Understand lateral ankle sprains, syndesmotic injury, Achilles tendon rupture, plantar fasciitis, Lisfranc injury, Jones fractures, fifth metatarsal avulsions, stress fractures, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, and osteochondral lesions of the talus. Know the Ottawa ankle rules, squeeze and external rotation tests, Thompson test, Windlass test, and midfoot stability examination.
256 words, about 1 min07Spine
Focus on cervical radiculopathy, stingers/burners, cervical disc herniation, spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis, lumbar disc herniation, spinal stenosis, cauda equina syndrome, and cervical cord neurapraxia. Know dermatomal and myotomal patterns, Spurling and Lhermitte tests, and the distinction between radicular and myelopathic findings.
242 words, about 1 min08Head and Neck
Understand sport-related concussion, on-field assessment, cervical spine stabilization, facial fractures, auricular hematoma, epistaxis, dental trauma, and neck vascular injury. Know the SCAT evaluation principles, red flags, and graduated return-to-learn and return-to-sport progression.
224 words, about 1 min09Basic Science
Know bone healing, tendon and ligament healing, articular cartilage structure, graft biology, suture and implant mechanics, and infection control. Primary bone healing occurs with rigid compression and direct osteonal remodeling; secondary healing involves callus.
251 words, about 1 min10Rehabilitation and Return to Play
Understand phased rehabilitation, criteria-based progression, strength and power testing, proprioception, neuromuscular control, workload management, and sport-specific return-to-play testing. Rehabilitation should progress from pain control and protected motion to strength, plyometrics, and sport-specific skills.
233 words, about 1 min