Pediatric orthopedic surgery during the residency--too much, too little?

Questionnaires sent to chairpersons of orthopedic surgery residency programs and to private practitioners were analyzed to determine how training in children's orthopedics is accomplished, to define which procedures should be taught to residents, and to describe what the private practitioner perceives as appropriate education in children's orthopedics. The amount of time spent on children's orthopedics is adequate by present standards. For most procedures, the residency directors and private practitioners were in agreement concerning what was appropriate to teach. Education during the residency continues to be the most important resource used by the practicing orthopedic surgeon in pediatric problems.