I have been reflecting on the notion that you
could load your 1st ray cases with cheilectomies
(or any single procedure) and think that you
have enough diversity to sit for the exam. I
just want to share a bit of clarification.
I presented my cases two years ago, and
cheilectomies were not included as part of
acceptable 1st ray cases, then. So, with regard
to your gripe of suddenly having the rules
changed, your complaint is really without merit.
Also, ABPS is looking for diversity. They are
looking for you to apply the particular
procedure with appropriate pathology, not
looking for how far you can push a particular
procedure. If you turned in 30 chevron
osteotomies, your application would probably be
turned away as well, and that is an "acceptable"
procedure.
I recommend to you and any other person planning
on sitting for the exam to go to ABPS.org and
check what the rules are for submission, EVERY
YEAR. It does not change alot from year to year,
but it does change, and it just takes a few
minutes during the holidays. There are some
minor tweaks, but that's why you check it each
year. If you looked at ABPS 220 you would have
noticed at least 3 years ago that cheilectomies
could not be used as an acceptable procedure for
condiseration of 1st ray diversity. I printed
out the ABPS 220 in 2009 to see if I thought my
diversity was adequate and it spelled out that
cheilectomy could not be used for 2010
submissions.
ALERT: neither a silver nor a McBride can be
used either, now or then. I recommend taking the
qualification exam again. Also, make sure all of
your cases have diversity, from this point
forward. But don't forget, you could spend the
next year or two making sure you have
osteotomies and fusions, but get dung because
your other 70 lack diversity, or you did not get
the right post operative radiographs, so don't
get hung up on one procedure or one solution for
every diagnosis. Good luck with your board
preparation. It is not an easy process.
Jeffrey Dull, DPM, Bay Minette, AL,
premierfoot3991@bellsouth.net
