Candidates for the CAQ must be able to apply the appropriate knowledge and skills needed for practice in orthopaedic surgery, as described below. In support of this requirement, each candidate must provide attestation from a physician, lead/senior physician assistant, or physician/physician assistant post graduate program director who works in the specialty and is familiar with the PA's practice and experience within 90 days after they receive their CAQ score. The attestation of knowledge and skills must indicate that the PA has performed the procedures and patient management relevant to the practice setting and/or understands how and when the procedures should be performed.
Again, the PA may not have experience with each procedure, but he or she must be knowledgeable of the basics of the procedures, in what situation the procedures should be done, and the associated management of patients.
In determining whether an applicant can satisfy the Specialty Procedures and Patient Case Requirement, consideration should be given to the following areas:
Anesthesia
• Local anesthesia including digital block
• Procedural anesthesia, conscious sedation
• Regional anesthesia
Advanced Wound Management
• Superficial/deep wound closure
• Wound debridement, incision and drainage
• Placement/removal of wound vacs, drains
• Tendon repair
• K-wire removal, hardware removal
Compartment Pressure Measurement/ Management
Diagnostic/Therapeutic Needle Aspiration/ Injections
• Joints, tendons, trigger points, bursa, cysts
• Needle biopsy
Diagnostic Radiography/Other Modalities
• Proper positioning and techniques for skeletal radiographs
• Interpretation of skeletal, soft tissue radiographs
• Interpretation of CT scan, MRIs
• Electromyography interpretation
Fracture, Dislocation Management
• Universal hip, shoulder, etc. reduction and relocation
• Application of braces, splints, casts, appliances
• Application of skeletal traction, skin traction
• Percutaneous pinning of fractures
Operative /Perioperative Care
• Preoperative consultation, evaluation
• First surgical assist
• Postoperative care, management
Prevention, Recognition, Management of Common Orthopaedic Complications/Conditions
• Deep venous thrombosis
• Pulmonary embolization
• Osteoporosis
• Osteomyelitis