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Trauma & Orthopaedics

Trauma & Orthopaedic (FRCS T&O oral)

Sit your FRCS T&O viva after rehearsing every answer out loud

Rehearse FRCS T&O Trauma & Orthopaedics viva scenarios out loud against a senior examiner who probes your reasoning. Get instant, examiner-style feedback on every answer — as many times as it takes to sound fluent.

Practise the FRCS T&O viva Free trial — no card required

What is the FRCS T&O viva, and how do you practise for it?

The FRCS T&O viva is an oral exam where you defend your clinical reasoning out loud to a senior examiner. The most effective preparation is repeated spoken rehearsal — with MedMock you practise viva-style questioning against an AI examiner and get instant, examiner-style feedback on every answer.

Last reviewed June 2026

You can know the medicine and still freeze in the room

The FRCS T&O viva rewards fluency under pressure. It is not enough to know the answer — you must articulate it clearly and in a structured way, while a senior examiner interrupts and probes further.

That ability comes only from rehearsing out loud against someone who challenges you. Yet willing seniors are scarce, mock vivas are rare, and rehearsing silently develops none of the fluency you need on the day.

FRCS T&O viva practice, on demand

The FRCS T&O Section 2 clinical oral runs four 30-minute structured oral stations — Adult elective orthopaedics including spine, Trauma including spine, Children's orthopaedics & hand / upper limb, and Applied basic sciences (anatomy, surgical approaches, pathology, biomechanics, audit, methodology, outcome-based medicine). Each station is examined in pairs and marked against key-point descriptors across three sequential questions.

MedMock gives you a senior examiner who probes your reasoning, available 24/7. Pick a question, have a genuine spoken conversation, and get instant, examiner-style feedback the moment you finish — scored against what genuinely matters in the FRCS T&O. No rota conflicts, no study partner, no waiting your turn. Simply practise whenever you have ten minutes.

How it works

1

Choose a question

Pick from the real FRCS T&O questions — all 4 of them, or let MedMock surprise you the way exam day will.

2

Have the conversation

Speak naturally, out loud. The AI examiner listens, follows up and probes further, exactly like the viva.

3

Get instant feedback

The moment you finish, you get specific, examiner-style feedback and a score — what you did well, what cost you marks, and precisely what to fix before the next attempt.

Why candidates practise with MedMock

Practise out loud, any time

No study partner, no booking, no rota clash. Open MedMock at 6am or midnight and run a full question in minutes.

All 4 questions, endless variations

You will never simply memorise answers. Each run is different, so you build the real skill — adapting in the moment.

Examiner-level feedback in seconds

Know exactly where you lost marks and how to address it, instead of guessing why a mock session went poorly.

Turn nerves into muscle memory

By the time you sit the FRCS T&O, the format feels familiar — because you have already done it dozens of times.

A fraction of the cost of courses

Avoid the hundreds of pounds you would spend on a one-off exam course, and practise unlimited scenarios instead.

Practise anywhere, from your phone

On a break, during the commute, between jobs on the ward — your preparation goes wherever you do.

Practise every station

MedMock covers the questions you will face in the FRCS T&O viva. Rehearse each one until it feels routine.

1

Adult elective orthopaedics including spine

30-minute structured oral with a volunteer patient or clinical scenario (with imaging). Three sequential questions: clinic approach (history / examination / differential), management (anatomy / pathophysiology / therapeutic options), and complications.

2

Trauma including spine

30-minute structured oral on a trauma case (often with imaging). Three sequential questions: classification & biomechanics, treatment strategy, and soft-tissue / complication management.

3

Children's orthopaedics / Hand and upper limb

30-minute structured oral on a paediatric or upper-limb case. Three sequential questions: presentation anatomy & diagnosis, management discussion, complications and procedural approach.

4

Applied basic sciences related to orthopaedics, including anatomy and surgical approaches, pathology, biomechanics, audit, methodology & outcome based medicine

30-minute structured oral on a stimulus (departmental guideline or radiographic image). Three sequential questions: basic science / anatomy / surgical approaches, pathology / biomechanics, and audit / methodology / outcome-based medicine.

Example scenarios

A sample of the scenarios you will practise — each plays out as a live, spoken conversation, not a script to read.

Trauma including spine

A 25-year-old polytrauma patient with a Gustilo IIIb open tibial fracture, 5 cm segmental bone loss, and absent distal pulses after splinting. Talk through your damage-control strategy, the orthoplastic plan under BOAST 4, and limb-salvage vs amputation decision-making.

Adult elective orthopaedics including spine

A 65-year-old with massive rotator cuff arthropathy (Hamada 4) and pseudoparalysis. Discuss your workup, the deltopectoral approach, and the case for reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

Children's orthopaedics / Hand and upper limb

A 5-year-old with a displaced Gartland III supracondylar humeral fracture post-fall, AIN palsy, hand pink and pulseless. Discuss assessment, classification, management and consent the parents.

Applied basic sciences related to orthopaedics, including anatomy and surgical approaches, pathology, biomechanics, audit, methodology & outcome based medicine

Describe the deltopectoral approach to the shoulder and the structures at risk, discuss the biomechanics of glenoid component wear in modern reverse arthroplasty design, and outline an audit cycle around 30-day readmission after primary shoulder arthroplasty.

FRCS T&O practice — your questions answered

How realistic is MedMock's FRCS T&O practice?

Every scenario is built around the real FRCS T&O viva format and the domains examiners assess. You speak out loud and the AI examiner probes your reasoning, so it feels far closer to the day than reading notes or rehearsing silently.

How does the feedback work?

As soon as you finish a question, MedMock gives you instant, examiner-style feedback and a score — highlighting what you did well, what cost you marks, and exactly what to work on next.

Can I practise specific FRCS T&O questions?

Yes. You can pick any of the 4 questions to drill a weak area, or run a mixed set to simulate the real exam.

Do I need a study partner or a fixed time slot?

No. That is the point — MedMock is available 24/7 and you practise alone, out loud, whenever it suits you. No coordinating diaries, no waiting for a course date.

Is MedMock right for me if I am sitting the FRCS T&O?

If your FRCS T&O exam involves speaking — defending your reasoning to an examiner — then spoken rehearsal is exactly what MedMock is built for.

How much does it cost?

Far less than a one-off exam course, with unlimited practice. Everyone starts with a free trial — no card required — so you can see how it works before paying. See current options on our pricing page.

Disclaimer: National medical recruitment formats and Royal College examination criteria are subject to change annually. While Medmock strives for absolute accuracy based on the latest HEE/NHS England cycles, always consult your official applicant handbook or Royal College website for the definitive, up-to-date station requirements for your specific cohort.

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  • Real voice-to-voice conversation
  • Unlimited attempts, endless variations
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Practise the FRCS T&O viva