Physician Demographics
Practice, Payment, and Income Information about Orthopaedic Surgeons
Orthopaedic Surgeon Income Information
There is a variety of income information available on-line related to orthopaedic surgeons' income and how it compares to other specialties.
Orthopaedic Practice in the US 2006 (PDF 694 Kb).
AAOS Sources:- AAOS 2005/2006 Census Income Report (members only)
- AAOS 2005 Bulletin article on 2004 Census Results
- AAOS 2004 Technology Use Report (members only)
- AAOS 2003 Bulletin Article on 2002 Census Income Report
- AAOS 2002 Bulletin Review of Orthopaedic Trends
- AAOS 2001 Bulletin Summary of an AMA Report
- AAOS 2001 Bulletin Article on an MGMA Survey
- AAOS 2000 Bulletin Article on 1998 Census Income Info
- AAOS 1998 Bulletin Article on Physician Income
- Medical Economics Earnings Report
(www.memag.com - Article # 123419) - MGMA Report on Physician Compensation
(requires purchase - www.mgma.com, item # 6196)
Practice Related Expenses
Orthopaedic Surgeons' Median Practice Expenses and Practice Expenses as a Percent of Gross by Type of Expense, 2003
| Type of Expense | Median Payment | Percent of Receipts |
| Nonphysician Staff Salaries | $143,996 | 18.9% |
| Staff Benefits | $16,703 | 2.2% |
| Clerical Supplies | $14,866 | 2.0% |
| Clinical Supplies | $29,796 | 3.9% |
| Rent | $39,356 | 5.2% |
| Utilities | $5,469 | 0.7% |
| Telephone | $7,211 | 0.9% |
| Advertising | $6,589 | 0.9% |
| Insurance: | ||
| Malpractice | $33,247 | 4.4% |
| Business | $5,613 | 0.7% |
| Equipment: | ||
| Rental | $4,675 | 0.6% |
| Maintenance | $5,223 | 0.7% |
| Depreciation | $17,025 | 2.2% |
| Dues, Journals | $4,492 | 0.6% |
| Conventions, Seminars | $4,430 | 0.6% |
| Professional Promotion | $2,540 | 0.3% |
| Payroll Taxes | $18,599 | 2.4% |
| Other Taxes | $3,739 | 0.5% |
| Automobile | $5,870 | 0.8% |
| Other Expenses | $12,275 | 1.5% |
| Total: | $381,714 | 50.0% |
- The median hours worked per orthopaedic surgeon is 60.
- The median number of patient visits per week is 103.
- During a typical week, an orthopaedic surgeons in full time clinical practice sees 22 new patients, provides 67 follow-up office visits, and delivers 13 hospital emergency visits.

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- Typically, an orthopaedic surgeon spends almost 50% of his or her time in office visits.
- About one-third of the orthopaedic surgeons' time is spent doing surgery.
- Nearly one-tenth of the orthpaedic surgeons' time is teaching and doing administrative work.

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For the most recent information, please see the 2006 report (PDF 694 Kb).
Source: Orthopaedic Practice in the US 2004.
Statistics
Guidelines and Technology Overviews
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- Osteoarthritis of the Knee
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