AB111. SOH25_AB_271. Orthopaedic oncology from a trainee’s perspective

Background: Sarcomas account for 1% of adult and 15% of childhood cancer diagnoses. Their rarity and life-threatening nature often create uncertainty among orthopaedic surgeons. This study examines Irish orthopaedic residents’ attitudes toward orthopaedic oncology, focusing on their interest in the specialty, barriers to pursuing it, and ways to increase engagement.

Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to orthopaedic specialist registrars (SpR) during a core SpR training day. It assessed their interest, knowledge, and confidence in orthopaedic oncology and the other major orthopaedic sub-specialties, as well as barriers to pursuing the field.

Results: Compared to other orthopaedic specialties, trainees showed the least confidence in their knowledge of orthopaedic oncology and in managing an oncology clinic independently. Sixty-five percent felt there was insufficient exposure to oncology during training. Key barriers included limited exposure (25%), lack of consultant posts (21%), and low interest (13%). However, 60.7% of trainees felt confident in managing metastatic bone disease (MBD) with guidance from a national orthopaedic oncology service. While only 39% thought a dedicated oncology service was necessary for MBD management, 85.7% supported a national advisory service. Regarding the performance of bone biopsies, 32% believed orthopaedic oncology specialists were essential, while 35.7% thought general orthopaedic services should perform them.

Conclusions: The study aligns with previous findings that trainees value a dedicated orthopaedic oncology rotation. Despite its niche status, increasing exposure to this specialty is essential to build confidence, knowledge, and interest, ensuring succession planning for future generations of orthopaedic oncologists.

Keywords: Confidence; knowledge; metastatic bone disease (MBD); oncology; trainee