Orthopaedics I've never really understood why some fields of medicine still spell their names in the old english fashion (well, actually - originally latin). These seem to be hoitey-toitey people within the fields that do this - paediatrics, orthopaedics, etc... like orthopedics isn't hard enough to spell without throwing a dipthong in the middle of it. And then, there's the question of how to pronounce it. Orthopedics, easy enough (oar-tho-peed-icks), right? However, with the dipthong in place, the 'ae' actually make an "eye" sound.. so now orthopaedics = "oar-tho-peyed-icks" (non-syllabic splitting of the word done purposefully in order to not reference the male member). How confusing. Paediatrics = "peye-dee-at-ricks"

To keep it easy:
Orthopaedics = Orthopedics = Orthopod
Paediatrics = Pediatrics = snot-nosed-brat doc (just kidding)

Regardless of how you spell it, say it, or do it, ortho is a pretty cool rotation. Aside from the long hours (which were pretty bad after my 2 weeks on vascular = cush) - 7 or 8am until at least 5pm at various places throughout the city and surrounding towns - I really enjoyed it alot. The docs I worked with were really cool and had insane senses of humor (or is it humour?) and joked constantly. I was pretty much always laughing at something. They were also pretty nice to me, which is very different from what I'd heard of the ortho rotation. Maybe they did the same thing to me as everyone else and I took it differently? Who knows. All I know is I had fun, I learned some stuff, and ortho surgery doesn't suck nearly as badly as general surgery. Actually (and I never thought I'd say this), some of the procedures are quite fun.

Now don't worry, it'd take a lot more than carpentry on humans (POWER TOOLS!!), 400-500+K/year, and the reputation as someone you don't want to mess with to make me change my mind about Emergency Medicine - so settle down. :) Frankly, I don't think I could be gruff like that - although I have been known to be quite nasty from time to time.

Anyway - FINALLY, surgery is over. Now for christmas break and a long needed vacation. I'm going to Maine to go skiing for the first time in my whole and entire lifetime (and hopefully to not break my leg and need the services of those same orthopods with whom I just rotated). Needless to say I am both excited and terrified - considering all I know about the surgeries involved to repair the various and sundry injuries to the osseous structures of the lower extremity. My father broke his leg skiing - these things run in families, you know.

Glad to be finished with "the hard block" of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Surgery. Next is on to the slighly less hard block of Pediatrics and Ob/Gyn (each 6 weeks in length). I'm not really looking forward to these at all... snot-nosed kids and (forgive my french) cootchie is not my idea of a good time - especially when they are all together (childbirth). More power to you if you are trying to become pregnant, but don't be coming here to give birth to your baby.. especially if I'm on call for Ob... Blaech!

Ok.. must away to finish my christmas shopping - I have only like 2 more people to buy for and I'm finished!! Of course, christmas is next saturday, right? Ok.. maybe I'm not doing as well as I thought..

later all...  ¶ 7:10 AM 0 comments

  Vascular Surgery: Done and finished I finished vascular surgery today. Overall, it was surgery - so it sucked. However, my preceptor was really cool. Very intelligent, very dry and crass. He was very cool. He and one of the other surgeons in the clinic were constantly back and forth with each other, cursing and joking with each other. The only thing I regret is that I didn't get to see much surgery. The only things that came in these past 2 weeks were vein strippings and port removals. These are not too interesting as far as surgery goes. My preceptor kept hoping for a good thoracic case, and, to tell the truth, so was I. I really liked the thoracotomy I saw in the ED last month and would like to have more experience with the patient with an open chest.

Anyway, today was my last day - and I found out yesterday there was to be an oral exam for this portion of my surgery rotation. Immediately, my stress level went through the roof. Actually, yesterday (at noon) when he told me about the exam, it was originally scheduled for yesterday afternoon. However, when I showed up, I waited for 45 minutes for him to arrive. Finally, he called and said he was stuck in a meeting, let's do it tomorrow.

So, I show up this morning ready for action (I think). I had no idea what this would be about - so I had to prepare for everything. The last day I read and re-read the vascular, thoracic, and pulmonary chapters so I would be prepared for everything and anything. I walk into his office, say "hi," and after the usual morning pleasantries we begin.

In actuality, it wasn't bad. It was a number of scenarios with patients that have vascular and pulmonary problems. I didn't know a lot of the questions he asked, but it wasn't very stressful and he never said "God, you're a f-ing idiot!" Not too bad at all.

Anyway, so my foray into vascular surgery is over. Next up is a 2 week Orthopedic surgery experience. And of course, today my vascular preceptor says the cool surgeries are now starting to come in... My crappy luck is quite intact.

more to come....  ¶ 8:58 AM 0 comments