MS · DNB
50 MS Orthopaedics Thesis Topics
Academic session 2026-2027 · 50 topics
This page lists 50 orthopaedics thesis topics for postgraduate candidates in India for the 2026-2027 academic session. Orthopaedic research shares the surgical difficulty of follow-up, but has one compensating advantage: validated functional scores exist for almost every joint and injury, so outcome can be measured objectively at a fixed point rather than described loosely.
The orthopaedics thesis topics below are built around that. They use scores such as Harris, Constant, Oswestry and the Knee Society index at defined intervals, alongside radiological assessment and cross-sectional work on injury pattern and presentation. Coverage includes trauma, arthroplasty, arthroscopy, spine, paediatric orthopaedics, degenerative joint disease, bone and joint infection, and hand and foot conditions.
Click any topic to open it in the protocol generator with the title already filled in.
- A cross-sectional study of the pattern and mechanism of injury in patients presenting with long bone fracturesGet protocol
- An observational study of functional outcome following intramedullary nailing of fractures of the shaft of the femur assessed at six monthsGet protocol
- A comparative study of radiological union and functional outcome between two methods of fixation for fractures of the distal end of the radiusGet protocol
- A study of the pattern of injuries and initial management in patients presenting with road traffic accidents to an emergency departmentGet protocol
- An observational study of functional outcome following surgical management of intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patientsGet protocol
- A comparative study of operative time, blood loss and early complications between two approaches for fixation of fractures of the shaft of the tibiaGet protocol
- A study of the incidence and risk factors of surgical site infection following open reduction and internal fixation of closed fracturesGet protocol
- An observational study of the management and early outcome of patients presenting with open fractures of the lower limbGet protocol
- A cross-sectional study of the radiological pattern and classification of fractures of the proximal humerusGet protocol
- A study of delayed union and non-union and their associated factors in patients treated for long bone fracturesGet protocol
- An observational study of functional outcome following total hip arthroplasty assessed by the Harris Hip Score at six monthsGet protocol
- A study of functional outcome and radiological alignment following total knee arthroplasty at six monthsGet protocol
- A cross-sectional study of the indications and preoperative profile of patients undergoing joint replacement surgeryGet protocol
- An observational study of blood loss and transfusion requirement in patients undergoing primary joint arthroplastyGet protocol
- A comparative study of early postoperative pain and mobilisation between two analgesic protocols following knee arthroplastyGet protocol
- An observational study of functional outcome following arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament at six monthsGet protocol
- A comparative study of clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging against arthroscopic findings in suspected meniscal injuryGet protocol
- A cross-sectional study of the pattern of sports-related injuries presenting to an orthopaedic outpatient departmentGet protocol
- A study of functional outcome following arthroscopic management of shoulder impingement assessed by the Constant-Murley ScoreGet protocol
- An observational study of return to activity following arthroscopic knee surgery over a defined follow-up periodGet protocol
- A cross-sectional study of the clinical and radiological profile of patients presenting with low back painGet protocol
- An observational study of functional outcome following surgical decompression for lumbar canal stenosis assessed by the Oswestry Disability IndexGet protocol
- A comparative study of clinical findings and magnetic resonance imaging in patients with lumbar disc prolapseGet protocol
- A study of the clinical presentation and management outcome of patients with tuberculosis of the spineGet protocol
- A cross-sectional study of the prevalence and determinants of neck pain among adults attending an orthopaedic outpatient departmentGet protocol
- A cross-sectional study of the pattern of paediatric fractures presenting to an orthopaedic departmentGet protocol
- An observational study of the management and outcome of supracondylar fractures of the humerus in childrenGet protocol
- A study of the clinical profile and management of children presenting with congenital talipes equinovarusGet protocol
- A cross-sectional study of the clinical and radiological profile of children with developmental dysplasia of the hipGet protocol
- An observational study of the outcome of conservative management of paediatric forearm fracturesGet protocol
- A cross-sectional study of the radiological severity and functional limitation in patients with osteoarthritis of the kneeGet protocol
- A comparative study of pain and function before and after intra-articular injection in patients with knee osteoarthritisGet protocol
- A study of the prevalence of osteoporosis assessed by bone mineral density among postmenopausal women attending an orthopaedic clinicGet protocol
- An observational study of the clinical profile and management of patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral headGet protocol
- A cross-sectional study of the clinical profile of patients presenting with frozen shoulderGet protocol
- A cross-sectional study of the bacteriological profile and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern in patients with chronic osteomyelitisGet protocol
- An observational study of the clinical presentation and management outcome of septic arthritis in adultsGet protocol
- A study of the clinical and radiological profile of patients with tuberculosis of the appendicular skeletonGet protocol
- A comparative study of wound healing outcomes between two dressing protocols in patients with infected orthopaedic woundsGet protocol
- A cross-sectional study of the clinical profile and functional impairment in patients with carpal tunnel syndromeGet protocol
- An observational study of functional outcome following surgery for hand injuries assessed by a validated upper limb questionnaireGet protocol
- A study of the clinical presentation and management of patients with diabetic foot presenting to an orthopaedic departmentGet protocol
- A cross-sectional study of the pattern of foot and ankle disorders presenting to an orthopaedic outpatient departmentGet protocol
- A cross-sectional study of the clinical and histopathological profile of patients presenting with bone tumoursGet protocol
- An observational study of the clinical presentation and management of patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the extremityGet protocol
- A study of the functional outcome and complications following limb amputation over a defined follow-up periodGet protocol
- A cross-sectional study of health-related quality of life in patients with chronic musculoskeletal disordersGet protocol
- An observational study of adherence to physiotherapy advice following orthopaedic surgeryGet protocol
- A study of preoperative anxiety and its determinants among patients scheduled for elective orthopaedic surgeryGet protocol
- A cross-sectional study of vitamin D status and its association with musculoskeletal complaints in adultsGet protocol
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More Orthopaedics topics on medicalthesistopics.comChoosing a MS Orthopaedics thesis topic
How is functional outcome measured in an orthopaedics thesis?
Through validated scoring instruments applied at fixed intervals rather than descriptive impressions. Harris Hip Score, Knee Society Score, Constant-Murley Score for the shoulder, Oswestry Disability Index for the lumbar spine and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire are all in routine use and require no licence. Choose the score before writing the protocol and state the exact time points, because inconsistent timing is the commonest reason orthopaedic outcome data becomes unusable.
How much follow-up can an orthopaedic thesis realistically achieve?
Six months is achievable for most fracture and arthroscopy studies if the department runs a functioning follow-up clinic. Twelve months is possible with a smaller sample and active recall by telephone. Arthroplasty survivorship and fusion rates need years and cannot be answered inside a residency, so a thesis in those areas is better framed around early complications, radiological alignment or short-term function.
What sample size is realistic for an orthopaedics thesis?
Trauma volumes at Indian teaching hospitals are high, so one hundred to two hundred cases of a common fracture pattern over eighteen months is usually achievable. Arthroplasty numbers are far smaller at most centres and a comparative arthroplasty study can stall for want of cases in one arm. Check the operation theatre register for the preceding year before finalising any comparative design.
Thesis and protocol questions
How is a thesis topic different from a thesis protocol?
The topic is the title — the question a study sets out to answer, together with the population and the design. The protocol is the full document built around it: background, review of literature, aims and objectives, inclusion and exclusion criteria, sample size calculation, methodology, statistical plan, ethics considerations, consent documents and references. A topic is agreed with a guide first; the protocol is written afterwards and submitted to the institutional ethics committee.
When does a postgraduate thesis have to be submitted?
For most Indian postgraduate programmes the protocol is submitted within the first six months of joining, and the completed thesis is submitted at least six months before the final examination. Exact deadlines are set by the university, so the departmental circular for the current session takes precedence over any general timeline.
How is sample size decided for a postgraduate thesis?
Sample size follows from the primary objective, not the other way round. A prevalence study is powered from an expected proportion and an acceptable margin of error; a comparative study is powered from the expected difference between groups, the standard deviation, alpha and desired power. The figure should then be checked against the institution's actual case load for the study period, because a statistically ideal sample that cannot be recruited in the time available is not a workable plan.
Does a thesis topic need ethics committee approval?
Yes. Every postgraduate thesis involving human participants, human data or human samples requires clearance from the institutional ethics committee before data collection begins. Approval is granted on the protocol rather than on the title, and the submission usually includes the protocol, the participant information sheet and the consent form in English and in the local language.
What makes a topic realistic for a three-year postgraduate programme?
A workable topic can be completed at a single centre, with equipment and investigations that are already available in routine practice, within roughly eighteen months of data collection. Topics that depend on external funding, specialised assays, multicentre coordination or long follow-up tend to stall. Choosing a condition the department already sees in volume matters more than choosing a novel one.
Can a thesis be published as a research paper afterwards?
Yes, and it is generally expected. A thesis is usually condensed into a paper of around three to four thousand words, restructured into the standard introduction, methods, results and discussion format, with the review of literature shortened considerably. Journals differ in their requirements, and the ethics approval number from the original thesis is normally cited in the methods section.