Fellowship Curriculum
The Complete Orthopaedic Fellowship Curriculum
A structured, consultant-authored programme covering the four pillars of fellowship-level orthopaedic surgery.
Designed for the Fellowship Standard
Every module in the Bone Mentor curriculum has been authored by a practising NHS consultant orthopaedic surgeon. The content is calibrated to the depth of knowledge expected at fellowship level — not a general surgical overview, but the granular clinical reasoning, operative decision-making, and complication management that defines a specialist.
Trauma
Comprehensive management of musculoskeletal trauma from initial assessment through to definitive fixation and rehabilitation planning. Taught from the perspective of a consultant trauma surgeon.
Principles of Fracture Management
Biomechanics of bone healing, fixation principles, and the decision framework for operative vs non-operative management.
Proximal Femur Fractures
Classification, surgical approach selection, implant choice, and peri-operative optimisation for hip fractures in all patient groups.
Tibial Plateau & Pilon Fractures
Complex periarticular fractures — staging, approach, reduction technique, and management of soft tissue compromise.
Polytrauma & Damage Control
Systemic assessment, damage control orthopaedics, and definitive fixation timing in the multiply injured patient.
Arthroplasty
Primary and revision hip and knee replacement — from patient selection and implant choice through to complex revision surgery and complication management.
Primary Total Hip Replacement
Approach selection, acetabular and femoral component positioning, bearing surfaces, and achieving optimal biomechanics.
Primary Total Knee Replacement
Alignment philosophy, gap balancing, implant selection, and management of the complex primary knee.
Revision Hip Arthroplasty
Failure modes, bone loss classification, implant removal, and reconstruction strategies for the revision hip.
Periprosthetic Joint Infection
Diagnosis, staging, one- and two-stage revision protocols, and antibiotic management in PJI.
Spine
Degenerative, deformity, and trauma pathology of the cervical and lumbar spine, with a focus on surgical indications, technique, and outcome optimisation.
Lumbar Degenerative Disease
Disc herniation, stenosis, and spondylolisthesis — evidence-based surgical indications and decompression techniques.
Cervical Spine Surgery
ACDF, posterior decompression, and management of cervical myelopathy and radiculopathy.
Spinal Trauma
Classification of spinal injuries, neurological assessment, and surgical stabilisation of the unstable spine.
Adult Spinal Deformity
Assessment and surgical planning for scoliosis and sagittal imbalance in the adult patient.
Sports & Soft Tissue
Ligamentous reconstruction, cartilage restoration, and sports-related injuries — evidence-based management at fellowship standard.
ACL Reconstruction
Graft selection, tunnel positioning, fixation, and management of the complex ACL — including revision and multi-ligament injury.
Shoulder Instability
Bankart repair, Latarjet procedure, and decision-making in the athlete with recurrent shoulder dislocation.
Cartilage Restoration
Microfracture, OATS, ACI, and the evidence base for cartilage repair in the young active patient.
Rotator Cuff Pathology
Diagnosis, surgical repair techniques, and management of massive and irreparable rotator cuff tears.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the Bone Mentor curriculum, surgeons will be equipped to:
Demonstrate fellowship-level clinical reasoning across all four orthopaedic subspecialties.
Apply evidence-based decision frameworks to complex operative and non-operative scenarios.
Manage complications and revision cases with the confidence of a specialist unit.
Approach fellowship examinations and interviews with genuine clinical depth.
Begin Your Fellowship Preparation
Enrol in the Bone Mentor curriculum and study alongside surgeons preparing for fellowship across the UK.