Orthopedics

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Orthopaedics, Orthopedist, Orthopaedist, Orthopedic Surgery

Category

Public Services, Public Facilities, Health Care, Clinical Facilities

Message / Function

To indicate the location of a clinical facility that is concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system

	Source	Description
	Fassati	Frontal view of human figure, joints and spine indicated by dots
	SIS	Frontal view of upper part of human figure, on chest: pole supporting crooked tree with leaves
A)	CNIS	Frontal view of upper part of human figure, bones of spine, chest, and hip indicated on one side
	Dreyfuss	Frontal view of arm and shoulder with muscles indicated
	WATI59585	Side view of leg with bones and joint indicated, cross inside filled circle, pointed shape indicating pain
	NSD 1996	Side view of sitting human figure, two lines above leg
	Hayashi Fumihiro	Frontal view of human figure with crutch, plaster bandage indicated on leg, cross
	Aku-Johnson	Frontal view of human figure, one arm and leg with plaster bandage indicated
	Kapitzki	Frontal view of upper part of human figure, plaster bandage indicated on one arm
	alleBHP	Frontal view of upper part of human figure, one arm held by sling, plaster bandage indicated
B)	D'source	Frontal view of upper part of human figure, one arm held by sling, plaster bandage indicated
	SDA 1999	Frontal view of upper part of human figure with arm held by sling
	SIS	Side view of leg with plaster bandage
	NYCHHC	Side view of leg with plaster bandage
	Health Icons	Three objects used in orthopedic surgery
C)	Hirslanden	Side view of spine
D)	Shands Hospital	Side view of spine, connected with deciduous tree with green leaves

Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.

Discussion

The heterogenity of pictograms available to indicate the location of a clinical facility that is concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system is remarkable. The image content found most often is a human figure or just human extremities with one or more plaster bandages indicated, an image content that just as well could represent an emergency department. There seems to be no real general stereotype to express this message.

In our research we discovered that test results available for Orthopedics in our database are regarding a few pictograms only:

Rousek et al. (2011) examined an image for Orthopedics from Shands Hospital, marked as D) above, in a Comprehension Test. Just about 19 % correct answers are reported for this symbol in this study. In a follow up Matching Test in the same research project, this image and two other variants for Orthopedics were included in a set of 30 pictograms. Based on a list of twelve department names, respondents had to match these with the pictograms presented. About 63 % selected the Swiss pictogram from Hirslanden, marked C) above, about 52 % a pictogram from India, labeled D'source and marked as B) above, and also about 52 % the image from Shands Hospital, marked as D)above.

Deng et al. (2025) studied the comprehensibility of pictograms from the Chinese standard GB/T 10001.6-2006 Public Information Graphical Symbols for Use on Signs, Part 6: Symbols for Medical Treatment and Health Care to identify effects of age and cognitive features. The pictogram labeled CNIS and marked A) above also was among the pictograms examined. In the Comprehension Test conducted, this pictogram performed moderately well with a correct rate of 71 % among the younger respondents compared to 70 % with the senior respondents.

Recommendations

Due to the fact that data as well as results from research mostly proved insufficient, we recommend the development of further pictograms based on new concepts, testing using the Comprehensibility Estimation procedure for eliminating poor variants and identifying the best of the set available, followed by a Comprehension Test. These studies should deliver useful data for recommending the best pictogram. Detailed information about the most frequent responses given in each of the response categories of the Comprehension Test should be provided to correctly judge comprehensibility and improve designs. Also information concerning knowledge about this medical specialization should be collected at the end of the test, as studies suggest that many terms used for healthcare facilities are often not understood well by people visiting hospitals or related institutions.

Tests of pictograms of referent Orthopedics

Deng, L., Wang, W. & Li, P. (2025): Effects of age and cognitive features on comprehension of healthcare symbols in hospitals in Guangzhou. Sci Rep 15, 36355. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-20128-0.

Rousek, J.B. & Hallbeck, M.S. (2011):Improving and analyzing signage within a healthcare setting. Applied Ergonomics, Volume 42, Issue 6, 2011, Pages 771-784, ISSN 0003-6870, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2010.12.004.