How to organize case files for ABOS Part II

Organizing your case files is one of the most time-consuming parts of ABOS Part II preparation, but it directly impacts your exam performance. Every case on your submitted list needs a structured summary that you can reference during preparation and present fluently on exam day. Poor organization leads to fumbling, inconsistent presentations, and wasted study time.

Each case file should contain: a de-identified patient summary (age, relevant history, chief complaint), your diagnostic workup (physical exam, imaging, labs), the diagnosis, your treatment rationale, a surgical technique summary highlighting key decision points, the outcome, and any complications with how you managed them. Keep each summary to one page. If it takes longer than 3 minutes to present, it is too long.

A practical organizational system uses consistent formatting across all cases with tabs or sections by subspecialty category. Many candidates also create a "quick-reference" sheet for each case — the 5 to 8 bullet points that capture the essential facts and decisions. This lets you do rapid review in the days before the exam without re-reading full operative reports. Ortho Board Prep's case summary tools automate the tedious parts of this process — structuring your operative data into organized, exam-ready summaries that follow a consistent format.