Iraqi Board Orthopedic Surgery study guide
Iraqi Board Orthopedic Surgery · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Iraqi Board in Orthopedic Surgery is a national specialty qualification awarded through the Iraqi Board of Medical Specializations (IBMS) to physicians who complete accredited orthopedic training and pass its assessments. It is intended for residents nearing the end of their orthopedic program and for practicing surgeons who need the credential for hospital appointments, academic posts, or recognition abroad. The Iraqi Board Orthopedic Surgery study guide has 12 sections and about 2,427 words.
01Basic Sciences Applied to Orthopedics
Bone remodelling couples osteoclast resorption (RANK–RANKL signalling, restrained by osteoprotegerin) with osteoblast formation; bisphosphonates promote osteoclast apoptosis, whereas teriparatide is anabolic. Articular cartilage is avascular, aneural and alymphatic, so superficial lesions rarely heal and deep lesions expose subchondral bone.
237 words, about 1 min02Trauma and Fracture Management
ATLS sequence starts with catastrophic haemorrhage control, airway, breathing and circulation; orthopaedic injury is managed within the primary survey when it threatens life or limb. Damage control orthopaedics uses temporary stabilization, haemorrhage control and warming in physiologically unstable polytrauma, delaying definitive fixation until resuscitation endpoints improve.
228 words, about 1 min03Arthroplasty and Reconstructive Surgery of the Hip and Knee
Arthroplasty is indicated for end-stage pain and functional limitation after failed non-operative care, not for radiographic appearance alone. Fixation choice depends on bone quality and patient factors: cemented stems, cementless press-fit implants and hybrid constructs have different failure profiles.
210 words, about 1 min04Spine Surgery and Spinal Trauma
Assess spinal cord injury with the ASIA impairment scale: motor and sensory levels, sacral sparing and completeness guide prognosis. Neurogenic shock causes hypotension with bradycardia after cervical or high thoracic cord injury; spinal shock is transient loss of reflexes and flaccidity, not a blood-pressure diagnosis.
215 words, about 1 min05Pediatric Orthopedics and Congenital/Developmental Disorders
The physis is the weak link in children; Salter–Harris classification predicts prognosis, with type III and IV crossing the physis and risking growth arrest. Developmental dysplasia of the hip is screened clinically and by ultrasound in at-risk infants; late diagnosis causes limping and requires reduction.
211 words, about 1 min06Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy and Soft-Tissue Injuries
Meniscal tears: preserve tissue when possible; red–red zone peripheral tears may repair, while unstable mechanical symptoms may need meniscectomy. ACL rupture causes instability; reconstruction is considered for active patients, but rehabilitation and graft choice are shared decisions.
192 words, under 1 min07Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery
Flexor tendon zones guide prognosis and repair: zone II injuries have poorer outcomes because of the flexor sheath and pulleys. Nerve injury assessment includes motor and sensory distribution; early repair improves outcomes, and nerve gaps may need grafting or conduits.
198 words, under 1 min08Foot and Ankle Surgery
Ankle fracture stability depends on the mortise and ligaments, not fracture size alone; Weber classification and stress views guide fixation. Achilles tendon rupture presents with a palpable gap, weak plantarflexion and positive Thompson test; treatment is non-operative or surgical based on patient factors.
187 words, under 1 min09Orthopedic Oncology and Metabolic Bone Disease
Bone metastases are common in breast, prostate, lung, kidney and thyroid cancer; pathologic fracture risk is estimated with Mirels score and clinical judgment. Primary bone tumours have age-specific patterns: osteosarcoma in adolescents, Ewing sarcoma in children, giant cell tumour in young adults, and myeloma in older adults.
194 words, under 1 min10Musculoskeletal Infection and Complications
Acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis need urgent aspiration or debridement plus culture before antibiotics when feasible. Staphylococcus aureus is the commonest pathogen; biofilm makes chronic infection resistant to antibiotics alone.
187 words, under 1 min11Rehabilitation, Prosthetics and Orthotics
Rehabilitation begins early and is goal-directed: pain control, range of motion, strength, mobility and participation. Amputation level affects energy cost and prosthetic potential; transtibial amputation generally requires less energy than transfemoral.
192 words, under 1 min12Professionalism, Ethics, Patient Safety and Research Methodology
Valid consent requires capacity, adequate information, understanding and voluntariness; document discussion of risks, benefits and alternatives. Disclose harmful errors openly and promptly, apologize, explain what happened and describe prevention; do not alter records.
176 words, under 1 min