Trauma and orthopaedic surgery
Trauma and orthopaedic (T&O) surgeons diagnose and treat conditions of the musculoskeletal system including bones and joints and structures that enable movement such as ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves.
You’ll work with patients of all ages, often in a district general hospital or possibly in specialist centres or orthopaedic hospitals.
Life as a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon
You’ll spend around 40% of your time in surgery and the rest in outpatient clinics, the emergency department and assessing/monitoring patients before and after surgery. This is a rewarding specialty where your work can bring rapid relief from pain and discomfort for patients.
You’ll work on trauma to the musculoskeletal system, such as broken, fractured or dislocated bones and soft tissue injuries. These could be caused by anything from a low energy fracture in an older patient to multiple injuries caused by a road traffic accident.
Your orthopaedic work will include the replacement of whole joints such as knees and hips following damage due to osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. You’ll also treat congenital and degenerative conditions of the musculoskeletal system, often in babies and children, as well as infections and tumours.
Your surgical work is specialised and varied. Some operations are very quick, for example a spinal injection, whereas other operations, to stabilise someone’s neck or straighten a spine, may take several hours. You could work as part of a trauma team alongside emergency department doctors, anaesthetists, general surgeons and specialist nurses. You’ll also work independently.
You will use the latest technologies such as minimally invasive techniques for diagnosis and surgery and computer-aided navigation during surgery which enables 3D mapping of a joint. This is exciting for you and highly beneficial for your patients with reduced scarring and recovery time.
You can expect to be on-call for trauma emergencies and to sometimes work out-of-hours on long surgical procedures, more so than in some other surgical specialties.
How much can I earn?
You’ll first earn a salary when you start your foundation training after medical school. Find out details of current salary ranges for foundation and specialty training, SAS doctors and consultants on the 'Pay for doctors' page.
How about the benefits?
- make a difference
- flexible and part-time working
- high income early in your career
- work anywhere in the world
- excellent pension scheme
- good holiday entitlement
- NHS discounts in shops and restaurants
Must-have skills
- excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues, and patients and their families
- emotional resilience, a calm temperament and the ability to work well under pressure
- teamwork and the capacity to lead multidisciplinary teams
- problem-solving and diagnostic skills
- outstanding organisational ability and effective decision-making skills
- first-class time and resource management for the benefit of patients
- a high degree of manual dexterity
- superb hand-eye co-ordination, excellent vision, and visuospatial awareness
- physical stamina to cope with the demands of surgery
Entry requirements
Your first step is medical school. Typically, you’ll need excellent GCSEs and three A or A* passes at A level including chemistry for a five-year undergraduate degree in medicine. Many medical schools also ask for biology and others may require maths or physics.
If you already have a degree, you could study for a four-year postgraduate degree in medicine.
You’ll need to pass an interview and admissions test. You’ll be asked to show how you demonstrate the NHS values such as compassion and respect.
Some medical schools look to recruit a mix of students from different backgrounds and geographical areas, so your educational and economic background and family circumstances could be considered as part of your application.
"It was a placement in a children’s hospital towards the end of my specialist training that made me decide on paediatric T&O as my sub-specialty. I immediately loved the warm and welcoming atmosphere in the hospital, and working with children."
Read Emily's story.
What are my chances of starting a career in trauma and orthopaedics?
In 2020 there were 715 applications for 125 specialty training places, (a competition ratio of 5.72). There are currently 2,654 trauma and orthopaedic surgeons working in the NHS in England.
How to become a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon
After medical school, you’ll join the paid two-year foundation programme where you’ll work in six placements in different settings.
After your foundation programme, you can apply for paid specialty training to become a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, which will take a minimum of eight years.
You may be able to train part time, for example for health reasons or if you have family or caring responsibilities.
Where a career in trauma and orthopaedics can take you
You could:
- specialise or conduct research in areas such a particular part of the body for example shoulder/elbow, joint reconstruction such as hip or knee, paediatric surgery, sports injury or complex trauma surgery
- teach medical students or postgraduate students in training
- get involved in research at universities, the NHS or private sector
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Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon
Birmingham, B15 2TH
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant in Trauma and Orthopaedics
St Helier , JE1 3QS
- Salary :
- £114667.80 to £170947.54
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Health and Community Services
-
Team Leader - Trauma and Orthopaedics
Westcliff on Sea, SS0 0RY
- Salary :
- £47810.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant in Trauma and Orthopaedics - Hand and Wrist Surgeon
Rotherham, S60 2UD
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust
-
Team Lead Occupational Therapist (Trauma and Orthopaedics)
Exeter, EX2 5DW
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialist Physiotherapist Trauma and Orthopaedics and Vascular
London, W2 1NY
- Salary :
- £44806.00 to £53134.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
-
Locum Trauma and Orthopaedic Consultant Hand,Wrist,Trauma Surgery
Birmingham, B9 5SS
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
-
Senior Clinical Fellow in Trauma and Orthopaedics (Knee Surgery)
Cambridge, CB2 0QQ
- Salary :
- £75849.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant in Trauma and Orthopaedics with interest in Hands
Newport, NP20 2UB
- Salary :
- £110240.00 to £160951.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
-
CONSULTANT IN ORTHOPAEDIC TRAUMA SURGERY PELVIC AND ACETABULAR SURGERY
Oxford, OX3 9DU
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgeon
Gillingham, Kent, ME7 5NY
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Medway NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant in Orthopaedics
Sheffield, S5 7AU
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Senior Occupational Therapist for Orthopaedics
London, E11 1NR
- Salary :
- £53751.00 to £60651.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Barts Health NHS Trust
-
Trauma & Orthopaedic Specialty Doctor
York, YO31 8HE
- Salary :
- £59175.00 to £95400.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Directorate Pharmacist for Trauma & Orthopaedics
Oxford, OX3 7HE
- Salary :
- £64455.00 to £74896.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Support Medical Secretary - Trauma & Orthopaedics
Dudley, DY1 2HQ
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
-
Senior Clinical Fellow - Trauma & Orthopaedics
Fulwood, PR2 9HT
- Salary :
- £65048.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Junior Training Fellow in Trauma & Orthopaedics
Stoke on Trent, ST4 6QG
- Salary :
- £52656.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
-
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Shepton Mallet, BA4 4LP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Practice Plus Group
-
Consultant in Trauma & Orthopaedics with interest Hand Surgery
Chester, CH2 1UL
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon
Birmingham, B152QD
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Practice Plus Group
-
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon – Upper Limb or Shoulder & Elbow
Shepton Mallet, BA4 4LP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Practice Plus Group
-
Associate Group Manager, Trauma and Neuro Services
Coventry, CV2 2DX
- Salary :
- £55690.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
-
GPwER - Orthopaedics
Birmingham, B16 8PE
- Salary :
- £10750.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Modality LLP
-
Ward Clerk - B2 Trauma
Dudley, DY1 2HQ
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
-
Major Trauma Rehabilitation Coordinator
Derby, DE22 3NE
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
-
Speciality Administrator - Orthopaedics
Winchester, SO22 5DG
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Orthopaedic Knee Fellow
Basingstoke, RG24 9NA
- Salary :
- £61825.00 to £70425.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Orthopaedic Plaster Technician
Bury, BL9 7TD
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clinical Fellow - Orthopaedics
Birmingham, B16 8PE
- Salary :
- £10250.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Modality LLP
-
Clinical Health Psychologist (Major Trauma)
Plymouth,, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- £53755.00 to £60504.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
-
Senior Orthopaedic Plaster Technician
Warwick, CV34 5BW
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Therapy Assistant - Elective Orthopaedics
Bournemouth, BH7 7DW
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
-
Orthopaedic Team Leader - Theatres
Bristol, BS6 6UT
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Spire Healthcare Ltd
-
Static Physiotherapist (Orthopaedics/LRS)
Liverpool, L7 8YE
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Senior Orthopaedic Occupational Therapist
Swindon, SN3 6BB
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Practitioner (AP)
Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7QB
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust
-
Neuro-Trauma Co-Ordinator Occupational Therapist
London, SW17 0QT
- Salary :
- £56276.00 to £63176.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant in Lower Limb Arthroplasty & Trauma
Uxbridge, UB8 3NN
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Senior Physiotherapy Technical Instructor Orthopaedics
Haywards Heath, RH16 4EX
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
-
Senior Occupational Therapist - Orthopaedics & Surgery
Luton, LU4 0DZ
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Theatre Practitioner - Scrub Orthopaedics (Bank)
Haywards Heath, RH16 1UD
- Salary :
- £26.00 to £26.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- Nuffield Health
-
Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist - Orthopaedics
Carmarthen, SA31 2AF
- Salary :
- £48527.00 to £55532.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Hywel Dda University Health Board
-
South Wales Trauma Network Paediatric Clinical Lead
Baglan, SA12 7BR
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Swansea Bay University Health Board
-
Team Lead Physiotherapist Orthopaedics and Surgery
Croydon, Surrey, CR7 7YE
- Salary :
- £53751.00 to £60651.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Croydon Health Services NHS Trust
-
Clinical Support Worker - Elective Orthopaedic Unit
Barrow In Furness, LA14 4LF
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust
-
Specialist Occupational Therapist - General Surgery & Orthopaedics
London, W2 1NY
- Salary :
- £56276.00 to £63176.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
-
Band 6 Rotational Orthopaedic Occupational Therapist
Barnet, EN5 3DJ
- Salary :
- £44485.00 to £52521.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
-
Advanced Specialist Pharmacist - Elective Orthopaedic Surgery
Stoke on Trent, ST4 6QG
- Salary :
- £53755.00 to £60504.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
-
Band 7 Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist - Orthopaedics
Gorleston, NR31 6LA
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Secondment
- Employer :
- James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant in Soft Tissue Knee, Primary Knee Arthroplasty & Trauma
Uxbridge, UB8 3NN
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Senior Trauma Fellow in T&O (Lower Limb Reconstruction)
Cambridge, CB2 0QQ
- Salary :
- £75849.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clinical Support Worker – Higher Level Benson and Egerton Trauma Unit
St Leonards, TN37 7RD
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
-
OMFS Consultant Surgeon
Plymouth, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
-
Consultant ENT Surgeon
Luton, LU4 0DZ
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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These organisations have further information about being a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, particularly as your career progresses. Take a look.
British Orthopaedic Association
British Orthopaedic Trainees Association
Joint Committee on Intercollegiate Examinations
The Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
And hear from people working as a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon:
Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon - Council member Royal College of Surgeons
A career in trauma and orthopaedics - Alexander F Young, Benjamin C Caesar, Lee A David