Podiatry should stick with bilking the public with their "lazer" toenail procedures that are about 30% effective and cutting corns and calluses.
30%? Wow,
I did not realize that laser procedures for fungus nails was that successful!
In all seriousness, I believe that the majority of the USA trained orthopedic surgeons have learned foot sugery from Podiatrists although they may not want to admit it.
I do not know 1 orthopaedic surgeon without a copy of this under his desk.
They wont display it, they on't discuss it but as soon as the patient is out of the room its the first reference they reach for!
Its like saying I ignore orthopaedic literature....I don't..
Its like saying I don't refer patients to orthopaedic surgeons.
I do.
However I inform my patients of all their options regarding any surgical procedures and explain about Podiatric and Orthopaedic surgeons.
The simple fact is, orthopods are the single most disliked people in the medical community.
Even orthopods hate other orthopods.
No one likes them - thats maybe why they are always grumpy????
I'm not sure of the law in the USA but are not there a number of erroneous and frankly actionable statements made eg. 'bilking the public'?
Will the APMA and other representative bodies not be interested?
This is what I hear from them all the time and I think Bill you are correct - they lose patients to Pod Surgeons, get disgruntled and simply go on the attack.
There are some amazing orthopods in our clinical area, their work is top class - and the best ones are open minded enough to make it all about the patient and less about the ego.
Paul, There was a foot surgeon from Adelaide that I used to hold in very high regard in this respect. I forget his name, but seem to remember it was Greek. He was talking to me in Sydney at the time I was head of school - and he agreed to teach on our course, but then moved interstate.
The tone and language contained in this sham review of this great text would suggest this is NOT an orthopedist.
The author does not have the courage of his conviction to attach a real name, hiding instead behind the pseudonym 'Ortho1' ... which in itself, smells fishy
Perhaps a disgruntled Podiatrist (apparently there are some) ...
Although not all residencies are created equal, I can tell you that the 3 year residency program at the Gundersen Clinic in Wisconsin puts out Podiatric Surgeons that can compete with any orthopedic Foot and Ankle fellow in the country.
Our problem is that we do have Podiatrists that are practicing today with little or no surgical training located down the street from Podiatrists doing total ankle replacements and limb salvage procedures.
I can't blame the public, or even other medical specialists, from being confused as to "who we are"