AOBOS Orthopedics study guide
AOBOS Orthopedics · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery (AOBOS) is an AOA specialty certifying board that awards osteopathic board certification in orthopedic surgery. Certification is structured as a sequence of assessments rather than a single sitting: candidates complete a written examination and a clinical examination, then maintain the credential through Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC), whose components the board lists as active licensure, lifelong learning (CME), longitudinal assessment/OCC exam, and quality improvement. The AOBOS Orthopedics study guide has 8 sections and about 2,232 words.
01General Orthopedics and Osteopathic Principles
General orthopedics rewards a systematic approach to bone biology, fracture healing and the osteopathic framework. Know the phases of secondary fracture healing - hematoma and inflammation, soft callus, hard callus, remodeling - and the factors that delay it (smoking, NSAIDs, infection, instability, diabetes, steroids).
306 words, about 2 min02Orthopedic Trauma and Fracture Care
Fracture care is organized around the patient, the soft tissue and the bone. Start with ABCs and a documented neurovascular exam before and after reduction.
280 words, about 1 min03Adult Reconstruction and Arthroplasty
Adult reconstruction questions test indications, implant selection, complications and the workup of the painful arthroplasty. Arthroplasty is indicated for end-stage disease after failed nonoperative care - pain limiting function, night pain, deformity - not for isolated radiographic findings.
274 words, about 1 min04Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy
Sports medicine questions are built around anatomy, mechanism, examination and return-to-play decisions. For the knee, know the ACL examination (Lachman, pivot shift), meniscal signs (joint line tenderness, McMurray), and the fact that degenerative meniscal tears in older adults usually respond to physical therapy rather than arthroscopy.
279 words, about 1 min05Spine Surgery
Spine questions test separating mechanical from neurologic disease and identifying emergencies. Radiculopathy follows a dermatomal and myotomal pattern, worsens with extension and rotation, and may show a positive Spurling test.
269 words, about 1 min06Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery
Hand questions are anatomy dense. Know flexor tendon zones: zone I distal to the FDS insertion (jersey finger, FDP avulsion), zone II the fibro-osseous canal, zone III the palm, zone IV the carpal tunnel, zone V proximal to the carpal tunnel.
275 words, about 1 min07Foot and Ankle Surgery
Foot and ankle questions pair fracture patterns with weight-bearing decisions. Ankle fractures: Weber classification (A below the syndesmosis, B at the level, C above) and Lauge–Hansen mechanism (supination–external rotation is most common).
268 words, about 1 min08Pediatric Orthopedics and Musculoskeletal Oncology
Pediatric orthopedics is organized by age and growth plate. Know Salter–Harris I–V (I through the physis, II above with a Thurston–Holland fragment, III below, IV through both, V crush) and that type V carries the highest growth-arrest risk.
281 words, about 1 min