Orthopedic Board study plan

Orthopedic Board · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 6 hours per week

Week 1

Part I (Written) Examination

Build a one-page blueprint of the Part I written exam mapped to the major content areas (basic science, trauma, arthroplasty, sports, spine, hand, foot/ankle, peds, oncology)
List the 10 highest-yield basic science concepts (bone healing, biomechanics, biomaterials, microbiology) and write a one-sentence summary of each
Create a spaced-repetition deck seeded with 150 basic-science and trauma facts
Rank your personal weak areas and record them in a study log

A one-page Part I blueprint with a ranked weak-area list and a seeded flashcard deck of at least 150 cards

Week 2

Work through high-yield trauma topics (fracture classification, fixation principles, complications) and write concise summaries
Explain damage-control orthopedics and polytrauma prioritization in your own words
Complete 100 practice-style questions on trauma and basic science and log every miss with a reason
Review and re-drill all missed items from week 1

A trauma/basic-science error log covering 100 questions with a documented reason for each miss

Week 3

Summarize arthroplasty (indications, implant selection, failure modes, periprosthetic infection workup)
Summarize sports medicine (ACL/meniscus/shoulder instability, return-to-play principles)
Complete 100 practice-style questions across arthroplasty and sports and categorize each error
Update your weak-area ranking based on new performance data

Updated weak-area ranking plus a 100-question categorized error log for arthroplasty and sports

Week 4

Summarize spine, hand, foot/ankle, and pediatric content into condensed one-page sheets
Summarize orthopedic oncology (staging, common tumors, biopsy principles) into a one-page sheet
Complete a 150-question mixed timed block and record your score
Identify the three content areas with the lowest accuracy

A timed 150-question mixed-block score report with the three lowest-accuracy areas named

Week 5

Draft a structured case-presentation template (history, exam, imaging, differential, plan, complications)
Rehearse five trauma cases aloud using the template and record them
Identify the five most likely oral-exam follow-up questions per case and write model answers
Time each rehearsal to a target of 5 minutes per case

A case-presentation template plus five recorded trauma rehearsals with timed model answers

Week 6

Rehearse five arthroplasty and sports cases aloud using the template
Practice defending management decisions and handling 'what if' complication scenarios
Build a complications-and-rescue list for each rehearsed case
Solicit feedback from a colleague or mentor on two rehearsals

Five recorded arthroplasty/sports rehearsals with a complications-and-rescue list and written feedback on two

Week 7

Two completed mock oral sessions with scores plus a consolidated prioritized improvement list

Week 8

Re-drill every flagged weak area from the error logs and mock sessions
Rehearse the three weakest cases until each is delivered confidently within time
Complete a final 200-question timed Part I block and review all misses
Finalize a one-page pre-exam summary sheet of high-yield facts and presentation frameworks

A final 200-question timed score, a cleared weak-area checklist, and a one-page pre-exam summary sheet

Week 2: Seeded deck of 150+ cards and a trauma/basic-science error log of 100 questions completed with documented miss reasons

Week 4: Timed 150-question mixed block completed; three lowest-accuracy content areas identified and written down

Week 6: Ten total recorded oral rehearsals completed (five trauma, five arthroplasty/sports) with written feedback on at least two

Week 8: Two mock oral sessions and a final 200-question timed block completed; weak-area checklist cleared and one-page summary sheet finished