How to become an Orthopaedic Surgeon in India

"One who wishes to be a Surgeon should go to WAR".

Have you ever wondered how many muscles there are in the human body? There are around 600 muscles in the human body. The main types of muscles include skeletal, smooth and cardiac. But the point is not the number of muscles but the specific care each of them require for a healthy functioning body. Different types of muscles have different job roles and any kind of issue in those can result in weakness, pain or even paralysis. Professionals treating such problems are called Orthopaedicians or Orthopaedic Surgeons. Want to answer the question- How to become an Orthopaedic Surgeon in India?, let's get started with the basic one. 

Who is an Orthopaedic Surgeon?

Orthopaedic Surgeon is a medical professional who trains himself/ herself in Orthopaedics or Orthopaedic Surgery, which is a branch of surgery concerned with various conditions that involve the musculoskeletal system. He/ She is devoted to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disorders of Bones, Joints, Ligaments, Muscles, etc. They use both non-surgical and surgical means to treat musculoskeletal issues such as Spine Diseases, Sports Injuries, Degenerative Diseases, Infections, Tumours, and Congenital Disorders.

Orthopaedic Surgeon Duties & Responsibilities:

Orthopaedic Surgeons or Orthopaedicians work with a variety of patients suffering from various issues affecting their musculoskeletal system. These Surgeons address various physical traumas, such as injuries, infections and other physical conditions that require either non-invasive or surgical intervention orthopaedic procedures. They examine and diagnose bone, joints, ligaments and other musculoskeletal issues and collaborate with other specialists for surgical treatments. They also refer patients to physical therapy or perform non-invasive procedures, if needed. Apart from that, they research on defects, diseases and disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system.

Types of Orthopaedic Surgery conducted by Surgeons: 

Orthopaedic Surgeon duties consist of conducting many types of surgeries for better mobility of the human body. Below mentioned are some of the common types of orthopaedic surgery and its procedures:

• ACL Reconstruction Surgery:
  ACL reconstruction is a surgery performed to replace a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), a major ligament in the knees. 

• Knee Replacement Surgery:
  Knee Replacement Surgery or Knee Arthroplasty is a type of surgery conducted to replace troublesome surfaces of the knee. 

• Shoulder Replacement Surgery:
  Shoulder Replacement is also called Shoulder Arthroplasty (TSA). Here, various damaged parts in the shoulder are removed and replaced with artificial components called prosthesis.

• Hip Replacement Surgery:
  Hip Replacement Surgery is a procedure where the doctor surgically removes the hip joint with arthritis and replaces it with an artificial joint made of multiple components of plastic or metal.

• Knee and Shoulder Arthroscopy:
  Arthroscopy is a system that can analyze and treat issues in the joint. Arthroscopic Surgery is minimally invasive. The Surgeon makes a tiny incision to insert a camera allowing them to know what is going on inside the joint.
  Apart from these surgeries, there are also various surgical methods followed by Orthopaedic Surgeons in India. Some other primary types of surgery are Ankle Repair, Spinal Surgeries, Joint Fusion, Trigger Finger Release, etc.

How to become an Orthopaedic Surgeon in India?

To become an Orthopaedic Surgeon, candidates must fulfil the following levels of education as mentioned below: 

Undergraduate Level: 

Candidates have to pursue Master of Medicine and Master of Surgery (MBBS) from a recognised medical university. To pursue MBBS, they need to secure a qualifying rank in National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate Courses (NEET UG). To qualify for NEET UG, aspirants need to complete their 10+2 or equivalent program in Science with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) as mandatory subjects. They must score a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in the same.

Postgraduate Level:

Candidates have to complete a Master of Surgery (MS) in Orthopaedic Surgery for which they have to complete MBBS from a recognized medical university with a minimum of 55% marks. To pursue MS, they need to obtain a valid Applicants must have obtained a valid rank in National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate Courses (NEET PG).

Orthopaedic Surgeon Jobs:

Aspiring candidates can take up various jobs in the field of  Orthopaedics . Some of the Orthopaedic Surgeon Jobs in India are:

Orthopaedic Surgeon Salary:

The average Orthopaedic Surgeon Salary is Rs. 15,04,092 per annum, depending on the candidate's experience in the medical industry. Orthopaedic professionals are hired by top hospitals in the country and enjoy lucrative services, given their importance and experience in such an important medical field. Now that your questions- Who is an Orthopaedic Surgeon? and How to become an Orthopedic Surgeon in India? have been answered, you can start your journey towards being a top medical professional. Strive hard and get the proper guidance to get into the best medical colleges in the country and become a well-known Surgeon in the world.