Top 12 Orthopedic Technician Skills to Put on Your Resume
In the competitive field of orthopedic technology, having a standout resume is crucial for securing your desired position. Highlighting a well-rounded set of top skills not only showcases your expertise but also demonstrates your readiness to meet the dynamic demands of patient care and orthopedic procedures.
Orthopedic Technician Skills
- Cast application
- Splinting
- Traction setup
- Orthopedic equipment (e.g., C-Arm)
- Patient positioning
- Wound care
- X-ray interpretation
- Joint mobilization
- Orthopedic surgery assistance
- Medical software (e.g., Epic)
- Sterilization techniques
- Inventory management
1. Cast application
A cast application is a procedure performed by an orthopedic technician to immobilize a body part, typically a limb, using rigid materials like plaster or fiberglass to hold bones in place for healing after a fracture or injury.
Why It's Important
Cast application stabilizes and supports broken or injured bones and joints, promoting proper alignment and healing while minimizing discomfort and unnecessary movement.
How to Improve Cast Application Skills
Preparation: Inspect skin, assess swelling, and protect bony prominences with stockinette and well-layered padding.
Material selection: Choose plaster for contouring or fiberglass for lighter, faster-setting needs; consider waterproof liners when appropriate.
Technique: Apply smooth, even layers; use three-point molding; maintain neutral alignment; avoid wrinkles and pressure spots.
Safety checks: Perform and document neurovascular checks before and after; use the two-finger test; bivalve or window when swelling risk is high.
Edge finishing: Petal or trim edges to prevent skin irritation and snagging.
Patient education: Elevation, finger/toe motion, cast care, and clear red flags (numbness, increasing pain, color change, burning, tightness).
Practice and refreshers: Rehearse on models, review difficult cases, and update techniques through ongoing training.
How to Display Cast application Skills on Your Resume
2. Splinting
Splinting is the application of a rigid or semi-rigid support to stabilize, protect, or align an injured or painful limb or joint during healing or while awaiting definitive treatment.
Why It's Important
Splints control pain, limit further injury, maintain alignment, and allow for swelling—crucial in the first phase of fracture and soft-tissue management.
How to Improve Splinting Skills
Know your indications: Match splint type and length to the injury pattern and expected swelling.
Pad smartly: Extra protection over bony landmarks and nerve paths; smooth layers to prevent hot spots.
Mold with intent: Position of function, three-point mold for fractures, maintain neutral rotation.
Secure correctly: Evenly wrap with elastic bandage—snug, not strangling; leave digits visible when needed for checks.
Reassess frequently: Document pulses, capillary refill, sensation, and motor function after application and rechecks.
Infection control: Clean technique, glove use, and clean surfaces every time.
Teach the patient: Care instructions, activity limits, and urgent symptoms that require return.
How to Display Splinting Skills on Your Resume
3. Traction setup
Traction applies a controlled pulling force using ropes, weights, and pulleys to align, immobilize, or reduce stress on bones and soft tissues. It may be skin or skeletal, continuous or intermittent, based on the order.
Why It's Important
Proper traction setup supports alignment, reduces pain and spasm, and protects injured structures while definitive treatment is arranged or healing progresses.
How to Improve Traction Setup Skills
Verify the order: Type, weight, location, and patient-specific precautions—no guesswork.
Line of pull: Align the extremity directly with the traction vector; correct rotation and avoid drift.
Countertraction: Optimize bed position and supports so the prescribed weight actually works.
Skin and pin care: Protect skin in skin traction; for skeletal traction, maintain pin-site hygiene per protocol and watch for infection.
Equipment safety: Inspect ropes, pulleys, knots, clamps, and weights; nothing should rest on the floor or bed.
Neurovascular monitoring: Regular checks, pain control, and timely documentation.
Patient coaching: Explain not to adjust weights, how to call for help, and how to avoid tangling lines.
How to Display Traction setup Skills on Your Resume
4. Orthopedic equipment (e.g., C-Arm)
Orthopedic imaging equipment like the C-Arm delivers real-time fluoroscopic views to guide reductions, hardware placement, and surgical steps with precision.
Why It's Important
Fluoroscopy enables accurate alignment and implant positioning, reduces repeat attempts, and supports safer, faster procedures when operated with strict attention to radiation safety.
How to Improve Orthopedic Equipment (e.g., C-Arm) Skills
Radiation safety first: Complete formal training; apply ALARA—time, distance, shielding—for yourself and the team.
Pre-use checks: Confirm functionality, battery/cord status, calibration, and sterile draping before the first case.
Positioning mastery: Isocenter the anatomy, collimate tightly, use true AP/lateral with minimal obliquity, and plan the arc to avoid contamination.
Image optimization: Adjust pulse rate, kVp/mA, and use grids when needed for clarity at the lowest feasible dose.
OR choreography: Manage cables, protect the sterile field, and communicate movements clearly to the surgical team.
Dose tracking and documentation: Record exposures per protocol and flag unusually high usage for review.
Care and reporting: Clean appropriately between cases and report any artifacts or malfunctions immediately.
How to Display Orthopedic equipment (e.g., C-Arm) Skills on Your Resume
5. Patient positioning
Patient positioning places and secures the body to provide access for care while safeguarding nerves, skin, vessels, airways, and lines throughout the procedure or treatment.
Why It's Important
Good positioning boosts visibility and accuracy, reduces complications like nerve compression or pressure injuries, and improves comfort and safety from start to finish.
How to Improve Patient Positioning Skills
Plan with purpose: Match position to procedure, patient anatomy, and risk factors for pressure injury or neuropathy.
Protect pressure points: Pad occiput, scapulae, elbows, sacrum, heels, and watch ulnar and peroneal nerves closely.
Maintain alignment: Neutral cervical and spinal posture; avoid extreme abduction or external rotation unless required.
Secure and verify: Straps, supports, and safety checks; perform a team pause to confirm access and sterility.
Monitor continuously: Reassess positioning during longer cases to prevent shift, skin breakdown, or traction on lines.
Think ergonomics: Adjust table height and equipment to protect staff and maintain precise control.
How to Display Patient positioning Skills on Your Resume
6. Wound care
Wound care covers cleansing, protection, and support for tissue repair—critical for post-surgical incisions, trauma wounds, and pressure injuries in orthopedic patients.
Why It's Important
Effective wound care prevents infection, shortens healing time, reduces pain, and protects function—especially around joints, hardware, and fragile soft tissue.
How to Improve Wound Care Skills
Aseptic technique: Hand hygiene, appropriate PPE, and clean field every time.
Thorough assessment: Document size, depth, exudate, tissue type, odor, and surrounding skin—track trends.
Cleanse and debride: Irrigate as ordered; support appropriate debridement to create a healthy wound bed.
Dress for success: Choose dressings that balance moisture, manage exudate, and protect periwound skin.
Pain control: Time changes with analgesia and use gentle techniques to reduce trauma.
Pressure injury prevention: Offload, reposition on a schedule, and use pressure-relieving surfaces when indicated.
Nutrition and glycemic control: Encourage protein-rich diets and stable blood sugars for better healing.
Patient education: Home care steps, signs of infection, and when to call.
How to Display Wound care Skills on Your Resume
7. X-ray interpretation
X-ray interpretation for an orthopedic technician centers on recognizing common patterns of injury, basic alignment issues, and hardware positioning to support timely care within the technician’s scope and under clinician guidance.
Why It's Important
Rapid recognition of abnormalities aids workflow, helps prioritize care, and supports accurate imaging acquisition and communication with providers.
How to Improve X-ray Interpretation Skills
Master anatomy: Know normal bony landmarks, joint spaces, and expected alignment.
Use a system: Apply a consistent approach (e.g., Alignment, Bone density, Cartilage spaces, Soft tissues) so nothing gets missed.
Understand views: Know when AP, lateral, oblique, or special views are needed—and how positioning affects appearance.
Compare sides: When possible, check the contralateral limb to spot subtle changes.
Pattern recognition: Learn common fracture lines, dislocations, and pediatric variants like Salter-Harris injuries.
Hardware awareness: Identify implant placement, loosening, breakage, or malalignment.
Know limits: Escalate uncertain findings to radiology or the treating clinician promptly.
Practice often: Review case sets and debrief with experienced colleagues.
How to Display X-ray interpretation Skills on Your Resume
8. Joint mobilization
Joint mobilization is a hands-on technique using graded, controlled gliding to improve motion and reduce pain by addressing capsular tightness and joint mechanics—performed only within training and delegated scope.
Why It's Important
Thoughtful mobilization can ease stiffness, restore function, and reduce pain after injury or surgery, helping patients move with confidence again.
How to Improve Joint Mobilization Skills
Biomechanics first: Understand joint surfaces, capsular patterns, and end-feel.
Choose the right grade: Match Grades I–IV to the goal—pain modulation or mobility gains.
Positioning and stabilization: Secure both patient and segment; protect neighboring joints.
Precise hand placement: Direction of force aligned with the joint plane; slow, controlled movement.
Monitor response: Recheck pain and range; adjust technique accordingly.
Combine strategies: Pair with soft-tissue work and targeted exercises to cement gains.
Protect yourself: Use sound body mechanics to avoid strain.
How to Display Joint mobilization Skills on Your Resume
9. Orthopedic surgery assistance
Orthopedic surgery assistance includes preparing rooms and instruments, maintaining sterility, anticipating surgical steps, helping with positioning, and supporting intraoperative tasks as directed.
Why It's Important
Skilled assistance keeps the field sterile, the workflow smooth, and the surgeon focused—reducing complications and time under anesthesia.
How to Improve Orthopedic Surgery Assistance Skills
Prep like a pro: Build sets, verify implants and sizes, and check backups; know preference cards cold.
Aseptic discipline: Flawless scrubbing, gowning, gloving, and surgical counts without shortcuts.
Anticipation: Learn the sequence of common procedures so needed instruments appear in hand at the right moment.
Positioning and protection: Safe positioning, tourniquet setup when used, and DVT prophylaxis equipment readiness.
Imaging coordination: Sync with C-Arm moves and shielding to keep the case moving and safe.
Clear communication: Use closed-loop communication and concise updates throughout the case.
Post-op flow: Apply dressings or splints as ordered, label specimens, and document accurately.
Keep learning: Simulation labs and debriefs after cases sharpen technique fast.
How to Display Orthopedic surgery assistance Skills on Your Resume
10. Medical software (e.g., Epic)
Medical software like Epic is an electronic health record platform for scheduling, documentation, orders, imaging access, billing support, and team communication.
Why It's Important
Strong EHR skills streamline care: fewer delays, clearer documentation, faster order entry, safer handoffs, and better coordination across the team.
How to Improve Medical Software (e.g., Epic) Skills
Role-based training: Complete required modules and refreshers; bookmark tip sheets.
Customize your workspace: Create smart phrases, smart texts, and favorites for orders and frequent notes.
Nail the basics: Chart review, med reconciliation, problem lists, vitals, device tracking, and task completion—fast and accurate.
In-basket mastery: Set routing rules, filters, and quick actions to keep messages moving.
Imaging integration: Attach photos when permitted, link to PACS, and label images correctly.
Shortcuts and speed: Learn hotkeys and search tricks; reduce clicks and duplicate work.
Privacy first: Follow minimum-necessary access, timeouts, and auditing rules every session.
Ask super users: Troubleshoot quickly and adopt new features as they roll out.
How to Display Medical software (e.g., EPIC) Skills on Your Resume
11. Sterilization techniques
Sterilization techniques eliminate all microbial life from instruments and surfaces. Common methods include steam autoclaving, low-temperature systems, dry heat, and appropriate chemical sterilants according to device instructions for use.
Why It's Important
Meticulous sterilization prevents surgical site infections and protects patients and staff—nonnegotiable in every orthopedic setting.
How to Improve Sterilization Techniques Skills
Follow IFUs and policy: Use manufacturer instructions and facility protocols without deviation.
Clean before sterilize: Thorough manual or mechanical cleaning, rinsing, and drying—no shortcuts.
Package and label: Use correct wraps or containers, chemical indicators, load labels, and lot tracking.
Choose the right cycle: Match cycle and exposure to the instrument material and design; load carts properly.
Monitor effectiveness: Biological and chemical indicators, routine spore testing, and complete documentation.
Controlled storage: Event-related sterility, clean environment, and FIFO rotation.
Safe workflow: Clear dirty-to-clean separation, PPE, and regular equipment maintenance.
How to Display Sterilization techniques Skills on Your Resume
12. Inventory management
Inventory management means tracking, stocking, and organizing orthopedic supplies—braces, splints, implants, and tools—so the right item is ready at the right moment.
Why It's Important
Reliable stock prevents case delays, curbs waste, and controls costs while keeping patient care nimble and uninterrupted.
How to Improve Inventory Management Skills
Set PAR levels: Define min/max for fast-movers and critical items; review regularly.
Use real-time tracking: Barcodes or RFID for accurate counts, lot/serial capture, and recall readiness.
Cycle counts: Frequent spot checks to catch drift before it snowballs.
FEFO/FIFO: First-expire-first-out for steriles and meds; reduce waste and expired items.
Standardize kits: Build case carts and preference cards that match surgeon patterns to cut pick errors.
Vendor coordination: Manage consignment, loaner trays, and delivery timelines; inspect on arrival.
Audit and improve: Track usage, returns, and shrink; refine ordering and reduce excess.
Train the team: Clear ownership of areas and processes keeps the system tight.
How to Display Inventory management Skills on Your Resume
