Arab Board Orthopedic Surgery Clinical study guide
Arab Board Orthopedic Surgery Clinical · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Arab Board of Health Specializations awards a clinical certification in orthopedic surgery that signals a candidate has met a regional standard for independent practice. It is aimed at orthopedic trainees who have completed structured residency training and at practicing surgeons seeking formal recognition of their competence. The Arab Board Orthopedic Surgery Clinical study guide has 11 sections and about 3,875 words.
01Trauma and Fracture Management
Candidates must master the ATLS approach (ABCDE) and the concept of damage control orthopedics (DCO) versus early total care (ETC). Understand the mechanism of injury , fracture pattern (e.g., spiral, comminuted, segmental), and soft tissue assessment (Tscherne classification for closed fractures, Gustilo-Anderson for open fractures).
390 words, about 2 min02Arthroplasty and Reconstructive Surgery
Candidates must understand indications (end-stage osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, avascular necrosis, fracture) and contraindications (active infection, inadequate soft tissue envelope, neuropathic joint). Know implant selection (cemented vs uncemented, bearing surfaces: metal-on-polyethylene, ceramic-on-ceramic, dual mobility), fixation principles (cement mantle, press-fit), and complications (periprosthetic fracture, dislocation, loosening, infection, wear).
350 words, about 2 min03Spine Surgery
Candidates must understand spinal anatomy , biomechanics (three-column concept by Denis), and pathology (degenerative, traumatic, neoplastic, infectious). Know indications for surgery (neurologic deficit, instability, progressive deformity, intractable pain) and surgical approaches (anterior, posterior, combined).
359 words, about 2 min04Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy
Candidates must understand ligament injuries (ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL), meniscal tears , cartilage lesions , tendinopathy , and shoulder instability . Know mechanisms , clinical tests , imaging , and treatment algorithms (nonoperative vs operative, rehabilitation).
356 words, about 2 min05Pediatric Orthopedics
Candidates must understand growth and development , physeal injuries (Salter-Harris classification), congenital anomalies , developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) , limb length discrepancy , and pediatric fractures (plastic deformation, greenstick, torus). Know age-specific conditions (e.g., Legg-Calvé-Perthes, slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), Osgood-Schlatter).
373 words, about 2 min06Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery
Candidates must understand hand anatomy (flexor and extensor zones, nerve territories), tendon injuries , nerve injuries , fractures (scaphoid, distal radius, phalanges), infections (paronychia, felon, tenosynovitis), and compressive neuropathies (carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel). Flexor tendon zones : Zone I (FDS insertion to fingertip), II (no man's land, FDS insertion to A1 pulley), III (palm), IV (carpal tunnel), V (forearm).
397 words, about 2 min07Foot and Ankle Surgery
Candidates must understand ankle fractures (Danis-Weber classification), ankle sprains , Achilles tendon injuries , plantar fasciitis , hallux valgus , flatfoot , and diabetic foot problems. Know biomechanics of gait and imaging (weight-bearing X-rays).
339 words, about 2 min08Orthopedic Oncology and Musculoskeletal Tumors
Candidates must understand benign vs malignant tumors , staging (Enneking, TNM), imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT, bone scan), biopsy principles (core biopsy preferred, avoid contamination), and treatment (limb salvage, amputation, chemotherapy, radiation). Know common tumors by age and location.
361 words, about 2 min09Musculoskeletal Infection and Metabolic Bone Disease
Candidates must understand osteomyelitis (acute vs chronic), septic arthritis , prosthetic joint infection (PJI) , and soft tissue infections (necrotizing fasciitis). Know risk factors (diabetes, immunosuppression), pathophysiology (bacterial adhesion, biofilm), diagnosis (labs, imaging, cultures), and treatment (antibiotics, surgical debridement).
324 words, about 2 min10Basic Sciences and Orthopedic Principles
Candidates must understand bone biology (osteoblasts, osteoclasts, osteocytes), fracture healing (primary vs secondary), biomechanics (stress-strain, fatigue, viscoelasticity), implant materials (stainless steel, titanium, cobalt-chrome, polyethylene), and sterilization (autoclave, gamma irradiation). Know genetics (osteogenesis imperfecta, achondroplasia) and pharmacology (NSAIDs, corticosteroids, anticoagulants).
319 words, about 2 min11Professionalism, Ethics, and Patient Safety
Candidates must understand medical ethics (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice), informed consent , confidentiality , conflict of interest , patient safety (WHO surgical safety checklist, hand hygiene, error reporting), and communication (breaking bad news, shared decision-making). Informed consent : Must include diagnosis, proposed treatment, risks, benefits, alternatives, and consequences of refusal.
307 words, about 2 min