The questions we get asked most.
Straight answers on how the content is made, how drafting and review fit together, how corrections work, what is free, and how to use any of it safely.
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OrthoVellum — Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is OrthoVellum?
It is an orthopaedic exam library — topics, operative steps, imaging, and practice questions in one place, with every clinical claim tied back to the evidence. It is built for fellowship candidates sitting FRCS, FRACS, and US boards, and it grows as new material is added.
Who is it for?
Orthopaedic trainees and qualified clinicians. It is educational content, not clinical advice — check anything important against current sources, your local policy, and your own judgement before you act on it with a real patient.
How is it different from other resources?
The whole process is in the open. You can see where a fact came from, how a page was made, how to report an error, and what gets corrected. Most resources do not show you that — OrthoVellum does, because it is the only way to trust the content.
Is the content evidence-based?
That is the entire point. Pages are drafted against the current literature, guidelines, registries, and standard textbooks, and every clinical claim is source-linked. When something needs a second look, there is a public route to flag it.
How often do pages get updated?
When the evidence moves, the guidance changes, or a reader sends in a correction. If a page falls below the standard we hold, it is fixed, corrected, or pulled down until it can be.
Content & Disclosure
What does the library cover?
Orthopaedics across trauma, arthroplasty, spine, paediatrics, hand and wrist, foot and ankle, sports, oncology, imaging, and basic science. The library grows steadily — a page is added properly rather than ten added in a hurry.
Is this written by AI?
Content is AI-assisted, then reviewed against the literature. Drafting uses AI tools to move fast, but every page is read, its claims are linked to real evidence, and it is signed off before publishing. Treat it as a well-referenced study aid, not gospel — verify anything clinically important.
Is a panel of clinicians reviewing every page?
No. There is no editorial board and no external peer review. Content is drafted with AI assistance and reviewed against the literature; unless a named author is shown on a page, treat it that way and check it as you would any study resource.
Where do the images come from?
A mix of original illustrations and openly licensed images, each labelled with its source or attribution where available. If an image looks wrong or the credit is missing, tell us and we will fix it.
Can I rely on this for a real patient?
No. This is educational only — it is not medical advice and it does not replace examining the patient in front of you, your local guidelines, a senior opinion, or your own judgement.
Governance & Contact
Is OrthoVellum free?
The reference library is free and stays free. Some exam-practice tools sit behind a small paid tier that helps cover the costs of running the site — but the core content is open to everyone, and any optional contribution never changes what is written or recommended.
Where can I read the standards content is held to?
All of it is public — editorial policy, content methodology, authors and disclosure, advertising policy, the medical disclaimer, and the privacy policy. They are in the navigation and the footer. Read them before you lean on anything.
How do I report an error?
Email us or use the contact page. This is the message we most want to receive — send the page and a source if you have one, and it will be fixed or the page pulled until it can be.
Do advertisers or contributors influence the content?
No. Money never decides what we cover, what we recommend, or which corrections we make. The advertising policy spells out exactly how that line is kept.
What happens to my data?
Traffic runs over HTTPS/TLS, and your personal data is not sold. The privacy policy has the full detail.