How important is it that my orthopedic surgeon is fellowship trained? how do i chose the best doctor for my surgery?

Depends: Having a fellowship does not guarantee that a doctor is a good doctor, and not having a fellowship does not mean someone is a bad doctor. It depends in part on the complexity of your problems as well. Consider asking your primary care doctor. He is likely to be familiar with the reputation of the orthopedic surgeons in your area. Thank you for the question.

Depends on surgery: First and foremost, you should make sure that your surgeon is board certified (check www.Abos.Org). Depending on the type of surgery you are having, it may not be necessary for the surgeon to have completed a fellowship. There are many "bread and butter" surgeries that any orthopaedist can do. The more complex the operation, the more important that the surgeon has had extra training.

Depends on surgery: I would say that most board certified orthopedic surgeons are well- trained. Like any other field, however, there are better skilled and gifted surgeons than others. I would do your homework , ask your friends, ask the surgeon how many cases he has done similar to yours, etc. Specialty training( fellowship training) can be important for technically demanding procedures( spine, arthroscopic , etc).

Advanced training: Fellowship training is another year (or more) of advanced training. If you feel your surgery will be more complex, advanced training in that type of surgery will give them more experience and expertise especially with the nuances from their director who probably already sees complex cases. The best doctor for your surgery will be the one that other doctors go to.