In all modern medical training programs, a surgeon must specialise in an area.

The exact number of recognized specialties depends on one's purpose in counting them. The following specialties are often described:

• Cardiothoracic surgery
• General surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Ophthalmic surgery
• Orofaciomaxillary surgery
• Orthopedic surgery
• Otorhinolaryngology
• Paediatric surgery
• Plastic surgery
• Vascular surgery

Specialisation

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A training surgeon will typically become a doctor, then train in basic surgical technique before studying advanced surgical technique in a particular specialty.

Surgical training is one of the most difficult programs to undertake, partly because of the commitment in time and lifestyle that a practitioner must make. It is also one of the most popular training programs.

Sub-specialisation

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Within each surgical specialty, there are further specialisations. For example, an orthopaedic surgeon might develop an interest in spinal surgery, whereas another might develop an interest in hand surgery.

Overlap

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It is possible for two different specialties to lay claim on a particular part of the body or type of operation. For example, the following types of operation might be performed by two or more different specialists:

• Amputation - orthopaedic surgeon or vascular surgeon
• Hand surgery - orthopaedic surgeon or plastic surgeon
• Nerve root decompression (intervertebral disc hernia repair) - neurosurgeon or orthopaedic surgeon
• Carpal tunnel repair - neurosurgeon, general surgeon, orthopaedic surgeon, and plastic surgeon
• and so on.