Demographic analysis of academic orthopaedic oncologists in the United States

Abstract

Importance

This information may help guide education and recruitment efforts of fellowship directors and societies. It may also help orthopaedic surgical residents considering orthopaedic oncology.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to characterize the demographics, education, professional activities, and location of practice of all academic orthopaedic oncologists in the United States.

Design

Academic orthopaedic oncologists affiliated with orthopaedic residency programs in all fifty states, Washington D. C., and Puerto Rico were included. Demographics, education, and professional data was obtained from orthopaedic program faculty websites and Doximity profiles. Current Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) committee membership was determined based on the MSTS website.

Setting

academic medical center, tertiary referral center.

Participants

not applicable.

Results

250 orthopaedic oncologists affiliated with 202 residency and fellowship programs were included. 18.8 % (47) of all orthopaedic oncologists and 18.2 % (16 of 88) of orthopaedic oncology directors were female. While female representation in orthopaedic oncology was not different from female representation among academic orthopaedic surgeons (20.5 %) (p > 0.05; Chi-Square test), it was higher than female representation among all orthopaedic surgeons (5.8 %) (p < 0.0001; Chi-square test). Of 71 (28.4 %) academic orthopaedic oncologists who completed an additional orthopaedic fellowship, 26.8 % (19) trained in adult reconstruction, 16.9 % (12) trained in pediatrics, and 16.9 % (12) trained in trauma. 19.6 % (49) of academic orthopaedic oncologists were actively involved in MSTS committees. States with the most academic orthopaedic oncologists included New York (30), California (21), and Texas (19). There were nine states with two academic orthopaedic oncologists, nine states with one academic orthopaedic oncologist, and eight states with no orthopaedic oncologists.

Conclusion

Female representation in orthopaedic oncology was similar to female representation across all academic orthopaedic surgeons. Many orthopaedic oncologists complete additional fellowship training. Orthopaedic oncologists are not distributed evenly across the US, which may lead to disparate access and discrepancies in orthopaedic oncological volume for each surgeon.