Becoming an orthopaedic surgeon: background of trainees and their opinions of selection criteria for orthopaedic training.

A questionnaire survey of registrars in training in Australia in orthopaedic surgery was used to profile successful applicants and to ascertain what entry criteria they considered appropriate for the Orthopaedic Training Scheme. Typically, trainees were male, average age 31 years, married with children, born in Australia, privately educated and from a traditional family background. Respondents believe that referees' reports, performance as a resident and a registrar, and experience as a non-accredited registrar are the most appropriate selection criteria. Trainees held the opinion that too much emphasis may currently be placed on the support of influential surgeons and hospitals, and too little emphasis on medical school performance and surgical expertise. Academic achievement was considered to be of little relevance. The implications of these findings are discussed.