Orthopedic surgeons who receive the TopOrthoDocs Procedure Experience Award perform this procedure more often than most surgeons in the comparison group (orthopedic surgeons who billed Medicare for the procedure in 2024). They rank in the top 20% of surgeons based on the number of procedures performed.
Why this recognition can help
Evidence from large studies suggests that higher procedure volume can be a positive indicator for improved outcomes, but it does not promise a specific outcome for any one patient.
What this award does and does not mean
What it means: This surgeon has high, procedure-specific experience for this operation.
What it does not mean: A guarantee of a specific outcome. Every patient is different.
Why higher procedure volume can help
Doing the same surgical procedure at high volumes can support:
- refined surgical technique
- an experienced operating room team
- smoother perioperative routines (before, during, and after surgery)
- faster recognition and management of complications
How to use this information when choosing an orthopedic surgeon
Use this award as one helpful signal, alongside your diagnosis, overall health, goals, recovery plan, and the quality of your consultation.
Selected evidence
- Halm EA, Lee C, Chassin MR. Ann Intern Med. 2002;137(6):511-520. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-137-6-200209170-00012.
- Birkmeyer JD, Siewers AE, Finlayson EVA, et al. N Engl J Med. 2002;346(15):1128-1137. doi:10.1056/NEJMsa012337.
- Birkmeyer JD, Stukel TA, Siewers AE, et al. N Engl J Med. 2003;349(22):2117-2127. doi:10.1056/NEJMsa035205.
- Ravi B, Jenkinson R, Austin PC, et al. BMJ. 2014;348:g3284. doi:10.1136/bmj.g3284.
- Siddiqi A, Alamanda VK, Barrington JW, et al. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2022;30(11):e811-e821. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-21-00946.