Correlation of orthopaedic trauma practice opportunities and number of fellows trained: are trauma-specific practice opportunities scarce?

: Recent trauma fellows are concerned with difficulty finding a job. Our hypothesis was that the increased number of trauma fellows has led to a decrease in the number of jobs available and a subsequent decrease in advertised trauma positions. To determine the number of advertised positions, a review and tabulation of the advertised trauma specific orthopaedic surgery practice opportunities for the past 9 years (2003-2011) was completed. The number of trauma fellows has increased significantly in the last decade from 19 to 64. The number of Trauma fellowship positions available has increased from 58 to 81. We found that from 2003 to 2011 fewer advertised practice opportunities were present overall. The increase in number of orthopedic trauma fellows correlates closely with the decrease in advertised, trauma specific practice opportunities implying a relationship between the two.