Orthopaedic surgery residency match trends during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Curr Orthop Pract. 2022 Jul 20;33(5):458-460. doi: 10.1097/BCO.0000000000001139. eCollection 2022 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Orthopaedic surgery is one of the more competitive specialties for medical students to pursue. Students often complete subinternship rotations to demonstrate skill, work ethic, and fit within a program. Away rotations were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This investigation compared home and regional match rates before the pandemic to the match cycle of 2020-2021.

Results: There was a statistically significant increase in students matching to their home program, and insignificant increase in regional matches.

Conclusions: This increase is likely due in part to the familiarity of students to programs where they could still rotate during the pandemic.

Level of evidence: Level IV.

Keywords: COVID-19; away rotations; residency match; subinternship.