Orthopedic surgery is the medical specialty dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves. This branch of medicine uses both surgical and non-surgical means to restore function and correct deformities for patients of all ages. Understanding the total number of practitioners in the United States is an important metric for analyzing the capacity of the healthcare system. The size and composition of this workforce directly influence healthcare planning, resource allocation, and the accessibility of specialized care for millions of Americans.
The Current Number of Orthopedic Surgeons in the US
The total number of orthopedic surgeons actively practicing in the United States is estimated to be over 27,800. This figure represents the current, active workforce, which is tracked by various healthcare data firms and medical organizations. Tracking this count is complex because different sources rely on varying definitions, such as board certification status or state medical licensure. While some broader counts include retired members, the most commonly cited figure for the active, practicing pool as of 2025 is more than 27,800.
Demographic Breakdown of the Workforce
The current orthopedic surgery workforce is characterized by a high degree of gender and racial uniformity. Historically, the profession has had low representation of women, and over 90% of the active workforce remains male. The racial and ethnic composition also shows a lack of diversity, with the majority of practicing orthopedic surgeons identifying as White. Furthermore, the workforce is aging, with the average age cited at 56.5 years in 2018 data, indicating a substantial portion of the workforce is nearing retirement.
Trends in Orthopedic Subspecialization
The overall orthopedic surgeon count is composed of practitioners who have increasingly specialized their focus beyond general orthopedics. Many surgeons pursue an additional year of fellowship training after residency to concentrate on a specific area of the musculoskeletal system or a particular patient population. This trend toward subspecialization creates distinct niches within the overall workforce. Major subspecialties include:
- Sports Medicine, which focuses on injuries related to athletic activity.
- Joint Replacement (Adult Reconstruction), involving procedures like total hip and knee arthroplasty.
- Spine Surgery, addressing trauma, degenerative conditions, and deformities of the back.
- Orthopedic Trauma, dedicated to the surgical treatment of severe fractures and complex injuries.
- Hand Surgery.
- Pediatric Orthopedics, focusing on musculoskeletal conditions in children.
Geographic Distribution and Access to Care
The availability of orthopedic surgeons is highly inconsistent across the country, creating significant disparities in patient access to specialized care. While the national density is approximately 9.25 per 100,000 population, this figure masks dramatic regional variations. Urban areas have a high concentration of surgeons, averaging 22 per 100,000 persons, while rural counties average only 0.1 per 100,000 persons. This uneven distribution results in vast regions being classified as “orthopedic deserts,” where specialized care is virtually nonexistent; for instance, 51% of all US counties did not have a single orthopedic surgeon in 2019.
Future Supply and Demand Projections
The demand for orthopedic surgeons is projected to increase substantially over the next decade, driven primarily by the aging of the US population. People aged 65 and older are more likely to require complex musculoskeletal procedures, such as total joint arthroplasties (TJA). The number of these procedures is rising so rapidly that some analyses suggest the average surgeon’s TJA caseload may need to double by 2050 to meet the projected national need. Simultaneously, the supply of surgeons is constrained by a high percentage of the current workforce approaching retirement age, with nearly 60% of active surgeons being 55 years old or older. Projections factoring in both increasing demand and expected retirement rates indicate a potential shortage of over 5,000 orthopedic surgeons by 2025.
The Orthopedic Surgeon Training Pipeline
The annual growth rate of the orthopedic surgeon workforce is controlled by a highly regulated training pipeline. Becoming a fully practicing surgeon involves completing a four-year medical degree, followed by a mandatory five-year residency program in orthopedic surgery. The vast majority of new surgeons then pursue an additional one-year fellowship for specialized training in a subspecialty. The primary constraint on the number of new surgeons entering the workforce is the cap on Graduate Medical Education (GME) funding, imposed by Congress in 1997, which limits the number of residency slots nationwide.