TO THE EDITOR:
In "Commentary. Responding to Change" (80-A: 601-603, April 1998), Sarmiento described the emphasis on teaching operative technique as opposed to orthopaedic medicine. Dr. Sarmiento suggested that the development of an expert in general orthopaedics could result from a change in the name of the Academy. Perhaps an orthopaedic quality-control crisis could be averted sooner by the establishment of a division of orthopaedic medicine in the orthopaedic department. The division would teach hands-on clinical examination and specific curative nonoperative orthopaedic treatment as opposed to diagnosis with use of magnetic resonance imaging and nonspecific treatment of an already painful area with exercise. Dr. Sarmiento's wake-up call should be heeded in order to prevent the perpetual creation of less than first-rate orthopaedic specialists.
H. P. Roosth, M.D.: 1335 Sante Fe, Corpus Christi, Texas 78404