How to get into Orthopaedic training in the UK

Stepping into ST3 Trauma & Orthopaedics in the UK is an exciting, yet challenging, prospect. I'm excited to share my personal experience and offer you some practical advice on navigating the application process. I was incredibly lucky to secure my top-choice rotation at the Royal London Hospital right after CT2. Reflecting on that journey, I can tell you it took significant time, unwavering commitment, and the invaluable support of a dedicated study buddy for effective consolidation. Let's dive into how you can prepare."

How and where do I start?

I think it's a daunting task when starting to prepare for the speciality interview, I knew I felt a sense of imposter syndrome and fear glossing over the step up in knowledge that is required of an orthopaedic registrar. I particularly found it tough to understand the extent of curriculum and in what detail am I required to know content in. 

Given many of you will be coming from the backdrop of completing MRCS the anatomy will be useful but most specific content will be new. At this point if you havent already started using orthobullets, you will have a eureka moment in realising it's value. 

Below I'll list the curriculum of conditions for each Joint and the topics you should cover. The resources I would start with is: 

• Curriculum Page Below

• Read Ortho bullet topic on it

• Use interview resources above to complement

• Use AI (Gemini/ChatGPT/Grok) to supplement understanding

• If you are short of time and want something more compiled you can sign up below and you can purchase my my notes as well. 

Courses: 

• FUNORTHO - basics first. Weekly free of cost meeting, great to see high SpR and Consultant turnout. Use it to learn from their tips and make a note of their cases and listen to your peers (especially the ones who are good). I wouldn't be crazy about volunteering to get viva'd as it is mostly people who do not have good study groups that are keen to use it as an opportunity for practise. 

• Potts St3 prep course

• Northwest Mersey Course

• Northwest London Course

• Rishi Dhir - Lets talk Dr course

• Local Deanery courses