Identification of Factors Associated with Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Programs That Preferentially Match Students Who Performed an Elective Rotation Before the Interview Process

Kenneth H Levy; Akram Al Ramlawi; Lucy R O'Sullivan; Miguel A Cartagena-Reyes; Andrew B Harris; Dawn M LaPorte; Amiethab A Aiyer

doi:10.2106/JBJS.OA.23.00165

Identification of Factors Associated with Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Programs That Preferentially Match Students Who Performed an Elective Rotation Before the Interview Process

JB JS Open Access. 2024 May 3;9(2):e23.00165. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.OA.23.00165. eCollection 2024 Apr-Jun.

Authors

Kenneth H Levy^{1

2}, Akram Al Ramlawi^{1

3}, Lucy R O'Sullivan¹, Miguel A Cartagena-Reyes¹, Andrew B Harris¹, Dawn M LaPorte¹, Amiethab A Aiyer¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
² CUNY School of Medicine, New York, New York.
³ American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.

Abstract

Introduction: The role of elective rotations in the orthopaedic residency selection process varies between programs. Our study aims to identify factors associated with residency programs that interview and match a greater proportion of applicants who have completed an elective rotation with their program.

Methods: Data were collected through the American Orthopaedic Association's Orthopaedic Residency Information Network database. Bivariate correlations and multivariate regression models were used to identify independent predictors of programs with a greater proportion of interviewees or residents who completed an elective rotation at the respective program.

Results: One hundred seventy-eight of the 218 existing residency programs were included in this study. Programs that offered fewer interviews and more away rotation positions per year were associated with a greater odds of its interviewees (OR = 0.36, p = 0.01; OR = 4.55, p < 0.001, respectively) and residents (OR = 0.44, p = 0.04; OR = 4.23, p < 0.001, respectively) having completed an elective rotation with the program. In addition, programs with fewer attendings (OR = 0.39, p = 0.03) and in-person interviews (OR = 3.04, p = 0.04) matched a greater proportion of their rotators. However, programs that interviewed applicants during the elective rotation were less likely to match their rotators (OR = 0.35, p = 0.04).

Conclusion: Certain program characteristics independently predict the likelihood of a program interviewing and matching their rotators. These findings may provide information for applicants and programs regarding the rotation process.

Level of evidence: III.

Publication types

Review