FAQs

See the Part II Case Review Overview page for more information about case review. ABFAS randomly selects up to 11 procedures from those logged in Podiatric Logging Service for Surgery (PLS) if a candidate applies for Foot Surgery certification. ABFAS randomly selects up to 22 procedures from those logged if a candidate applies for both Foot Surgery certification and Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery certification. If a candidate applies for RRA certification only, ABFAS randomly selects up to 11 RRA procedures from those logged. ABFAS may evaluate all procedures included in any case.

Candidates must log a minimum of 65 cases in PLS for eligibility to submit cases for review for Foot Surgery certification and/or Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery (RRA) certification (see Appendix C).

For Foot Surgery certification, a minimum of 30 cases must include surgery from the First Ray, Other Osseous, and Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle categories listed in Appendix A.

For RRA Surgery certification, you must log a minimum of 30 RRA.

Additionally, the RRA cases must include a minimum of 13 procedures from Appendix B.

Candidates repeating the Case Review portion of the examination must ensure they have an adequate volume of cases to meet the requirement. Cases selected for Case Review in previous years will not be used for Case Review in subsequent years.

• RRA procedures consisting of diagnostic operative arthroscopy, subtalar joint arthroereisis, foreign body/hardware removal, or ostectomy do not count toward the required 30 total.
• Open management of fractures must include some type of internal or external fixation.
• Unproven or experimental procedures do not count toward the required 65 total.
• Removal of internal or external fixation devices or implants do not count.
  Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) procedures and application of biological dressings are not acceptable.
• Please refer to the Board Certification document for required cases and Case Review eligibility charts.