Orthopedic Oral Board Practice Cases by Domain for ABOS Part II Preparation
A domain map for building breadth around your selected cases so your personal-case defense remains clinically complete and safe across orthopaedics.
Key takeaways
- ABOS Part II uses selected cases, but preparation still requires broad orthopaedic judgment because examiners can ask about alternatives, complications, and related conditions.
- Practice should balance your subspecialty concentration with cases that expose weak domains.
- Every domain should include at least one indication drill, one technique drill, one complication drill, and one outcome drill.
- SurgiTest practice cases are original educational cases, not recalled ABOS questions.
Build a case mix that stresses decision-making rather than comfort
Many candidates overpractice cases that resemble their daily practice and underpractice the cases that expose weak reasoning. A balanced SurgiTest plan uses domain drills to keep judgment flexible.
| Domain | Practice focus | High-yield oral-board prompt |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Reconstruction | Hip and knee arthroplasty, revision strategy, infection, instability, fracture around implants, bone loss, implant selection, and postoperative rescue. | Explain the indication, the operation, the first complication you fear, and the rescue threshold. |
| Sports Medicine | Shoulder, knee, elbow, cartilage, ligament, meniscus, instability, return-to-play counseling, complications, and expectations. | Explain the indication, the operation, the first complication you fear, and the rescue threshold. |
| Trauma | Polytrauma triage, open fractures, pelvic and acetabular injury, periarticular fracture fixation, compartment syndrome, infection, and nonunion. | Explain the indication, the operation, the first complication you fear, and the rescue threshold. |
| Hand and Upper Extremity | Tendon, nerve, fracture-dislocation, arthroplasty, compression neuropathy, infection, replantation principles, and functional reconstruction. | Explain the indication, the operation, the first complication you fear, and the rescue threshold. |
| Shoulder and Elbow | Arthroplasty, rotator cuff disease, instability, fracture, stiffness, nerve injury, revision planning, and implant complications. | Explain the indication, the operation, the first complication you fear, and the rescue threshold. |
| Foot and Ankle | Deformity, arthritis, trauma, diabetic foot risk, hindfoot reconstruction, ankle arthroplasty, wound failure, and salvage decisions. | Explain the indication, the operation, the first complication you fear, and the rescue threshold. |
| Spine | Degenerative disease, deformity, infection, tumor, trauma, neurologic decline, instability, and postoperative neurologic or wound complications. | Explain the indication, the operation, the first complication you fear, and the rescue threshold. |
| Pediatric Orthopaedics | Fractures, infection, hip disorders, limb deformity, clubfoot, neuromuscular conditions, growth-plate risk, and family-centered communication. | Explain the indication, the operation, the first complication you fear, and the rescue threshold. |
| Tumor, Infection, and Systemic Disease | Bone and soft-tissue masses, metastatic disease, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, metabolic bone disease, and multidisciplinary thresholds. | Explain the indication, the operation, the first complication you fear, and the rescue threshold. |
| Personal Case Defense | De-identified ABOS-style selected-case rehearsal with indications, imaging, technique, complications, outcomes, and alternate strategies. | Upload a de-identified selected case and defend the indication, operation, complication branch, and outcome. |
Every domain should test four different case types
- 01
Straightforward indication
A case where the candidate must make the diagnosis, select operative versus nonoperative management, and counsel clearly.
- 02
Technical nuance
A case where the plan depends on approach, implant, fixation, graft, reduction, reconstruction, or staging detail.
- 03
Complication rescue
A case that deteriorates after treatment and requires recognition, communication, source control, revision, or transfer.
- 04
Poor outcome ownership
A selected-case style prompt where the patient did not do well and the candidate must explain management without defensiveness.
Original scenarios are safer and more durable than recalled questions
The goal is not to memorize secure or recalled examination material. The goal is to become fluent in the reasoning patterns that public ABOS materials identify: gathering data, interpreting findings, choosing treatment, performing the operation, understanding outcomes, and applying knowledge.
SurgiTest cases should therefore be original, education-focused, and grounded in broadly accepted orthopaedic decision-making. Candidates should never share or request secure ABOS examination content.
Put the framework under pressure
Practice the answer out loud—not only on paper.
Voice-first cases, adaptive examiner follow-up, imaging, complications, and structured educational feedback for orthopedic surgery.
Questions candidates ask
Frequently asked questions
What is the current ABOS Part II Oral Examination format?
ABOS describes the Part II Oral Examination as four 30-minute periods with two examiners in each period and a 5-minute break between periods. Case selectors choose 12 cases from the candidate case list for presentation.
Does the ABOS Part II examination use my own cases?
Yes. ABOS requires candidates to submit a case list, and 12 selected cases are used at the oral examination. SurgiTest Personal Case Uploads are educational rehearsal tools for fully de-identified material and do not submit anything to ABOS.
What must 2027 candidates submit for the case list?
ABOS states that 2027 candidates must collect and submit all consecutive primary-surgeon cases from January 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026, and at least 35 surgical cases are required for eligibility.
How is the ABOS Part II examination scored?
ABOS states that oral examiners use nine scoring facets with a 0–3 score for each selected case and that 216 total scores are accumulated before adjustment for examiner severity, case difficulty, and skill difficulty.
Does SurgiTest reproduce official or recalled ABOS questions?
No. SurgiTest uses original educational cases and de-identified user practice material aligned to public ABOS format information. It does not solicit or reproduce secure examination content.
Can SurgiTest predict whether I will pass ABOS Part II?
No. SurgiTest provides educational practice, timing trends, and structured feedback. It does not calculate an official ABOS score, replace the ABOS rubric, or guarantee certification.
Source transparency
Official references
Board requirements, dates, and candidate instructions can change. Confirm current details directly with ABOS and the Board’s candidate portal.
Continue preparing