Published online Feb 18, 2024. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v15.i2.147
Peer-review started: October 30, 2023
First decision: December 7, 2023
Revised: December 25, 2023
Accepted: January 19, 2024
Article in press: January 19, 2024
Published online: February 18, 2024
Processing time: 99 Days and 6.5 Hours
The Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society (LLRS) is a premier orthopedic specialty organization that promotes limb reconstruction for all ages. LLRS membership characteristics, however, are poorly reported. This study delineates orthopedic surgeon LLRS members’ demographic traits, academic achievement, leadership attainment, and geographical distribution across the United States.
To inform aspiring orthopedic professionals, as well as to promote growth and diversity in both the LLRS organization and overarching field.
This cross-sectional study examined United States LLRS members’ academic, leadership, demographic, and geographical attributes. After reviewing the 2023 LLRS member directory, Google search results were matched to the listings and appended to the compiled data. Sex and ethnicity were evaluated visually utili
The study included 101 orthopedic surgeons, 78 (77.23%) Caucasian and 23 (22.77%) non-Caucasian, 79 (78.22%) male and 22 (21.78%) female. Surgeons with DO degrees comprised only 3.96% (4) of the cohort, while the vast majority held MDs [96.04% (97)]. Mean H-index was 10.55, with male surgeons having a significantly higher score (P = 0.002). Most orthopedic surgeons (88.12%,) practiced in academic centers. Of those professionals who occupied leadership positions, 14% were women, while 86% were men. Additionally, 19 (37.25%) United States regions and the District of Columbia lacked an LLRS-member orthopedic surgeon. Total per capita rate across the United States was 0.30 LLRS orthopedic surgeons per 1 million people.
Over 21% of LLRS members are women, surpassing prior benchmarks noted in orthopedic faculty reporting. LLRS members’ high research productivity scores imply field dedication that can refine expertise in the limb lengthening and reconstruction space. Gender disparities in leadership remain, however, necessitating greater equity efforts. A low rate of LLRS representation per capita must be addressed geographically as well, to affect improvements in regional care access. This study can serve to support aspiring orthopedic professionals, inform diversity, leadership, and field advancement strategies, and maintain the continued goal of enhanced patient care worldwide.
Core Tip: Societal membership characteristics for the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society had previously been poorly reported. These attributes were analyzed comparatively with industry precedents to glean insights for aspiring orthopedic professionals, inform organizational decision-making in support of growth, diversity, and equity, as well as to uphold the foundational goal of patient care optimization.