Achilles Tendon
Powerful tendon at the back of the heel, attaching the triceps sure
muscle to the calcaneus.
Anatomic Neck Construction of a humerus joint just below its proximal articular surface.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Connects the femur to the tibia in the center of your knee, stabilizing forward motion of the tibia on the femur.
Arthritis The inflammation of a joint.
Arthroscope The Arthroscope is an instrument used to look directly into the joints, this is used for diagnosis and treatment.
Articular Pertaining to a joint surfaces.
Articular Cartilage Line the bones, cushioning the joint.
Aspirate The draining of fluid from a joint space.
Autograft Any tissue transferred from one site to another in the same individual.
Autotransfusion Simply stated, auto transfusion makes patients their own blood donors. Prior to their scheduled operation, patients give two units of their blood which is stored in a blood bank until needed during or following their surgery.
Avulsion Tissue tearing away from a structure.
Baker's Cyst A swelling behind the knee due to escape of synovial fluid that has become enclosed in the sac or membrane.
Burring When you go through damaged cartilage into underlying bone and are unable to reach the blood supply and encourage a new fibrous covering to grow.
Bursa The bursa is a little sac with fluid. It pad and protects the tip of the joints.
Bursitis An Inflammation of the bursa.
Cartilage Tough, elastic connective tissue found in ear, nose and rib ends and linings of joints.
CAT Scan Computerized Axial Tomography is commonly referred to as a CAT scan or CT scan. This test is carried out in the x-ray department because it is a special type of x-ray. This test is used to show more detailed of the bony structures that are shown on the regular x-rays. The image on the left shows a CT scan through the lower back of a patient. The scans may also be used to create computer models of a spine such as the fractured cervical spine shown here. The CT scanner consists of a table upon which the patient lies. This table then moves through the x-ray machine. It is important that during the test the patient remain very still. The CT scan can provide very important and valuable information to your doctor. Occasionally, the doctor will ask that a myelogram be performed prior to the CT scan. In these instances, you will receive a needle into the lower back before the CT scan. Occasionally, the doctor requests that a different dye be injected into your vein-usually in the are-before the test. The CT scan takes approximately thirty minutes.
Cellulitis Inflammation of cellular tissue.
Chondromalacia Softening of cartilage under the knee cap.
Compression The process of wrapping a bandage snugly around a structure to diminish swelling.
Condyle A rounded process that occurs on many bones.
Contusion Injury to a part without a break in the skin: a bruise; from a direct blow.
Cervical Spine The portion of the vertebral column contained in the neck, consisting of seven cervical vertebral between the skull and rib cage.
Crepitus A dry, crackling sound associated with joint motion.
Compensatory Curve A spinal deformity, a secondary curve located above or below the structural curvature, which develops in order to maintain normal body alignment.
Debridement The removal of devitalized tissue from a traumatic of infected lesion until surrounding healthy tissue is exposed.
Discectomy A discectomy involves removal of part or most of a lumbar or cervical disc (nucleus). The usual reason for carrying out a discectomy is that part of the disc has become distorted and is pushing on a nerve that goes from your back down the leg or from your neck down your arm.
Discogram A discogram is used to show the structure and integrity of the disc. This test is done in the x-rays department. The discogram may be performed by a specialist called a radiologist. It is advisable to drink only clear liquids on the day of your test until it has been completed. The radiologist will numb your skin before the discogram is performed. Once the skin has been numbed, a needle is placed through the skin into the center of the disc. Accurate placement of the needle is assured by using x-rays. When the needle is in a good position, dye is injected. The radiologist will ask the patient questions about any discomfort or sensations that may be felt during the injection of the dye. Accurate answers to the questions is a very important part of the discogram. If a disc is normal, the dye will remain in the center as the jelly does in a jelly doughnut. If there is a tear in the outer part of the disc, then the x-rays may show that the dye leaks from the center to the outside of the disc. A discogram usually takes about thirty (30) minutes to complete. It is advisable to bring somebody with you when having this test. You may receive some sedation. It is not recommended that you drive a care or use public transportation to return home.
Dislocation Total displacement of a part.
Ecchymosis Small hemorrhage spot in the skin or mucus membrane forming a non-elevated, rounded or irregular blue or purplish patch (bruise).
Effusion Fluid on or in a joint.
Epicondylitis Epicondylitis is an inflammation of a muscle or tendon at the elbow. If the outside of the elbow is inflamed this is called lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow). Medical epicondylitis occurs when the inside of the elbow is inflamed.
Epiphysitis Inflammation of any epiphysis (growth center/end of long bone).
Facet Block Your back has joints which allow you to bend forward and backwards. These joints, called facet joints, can be damaged just like other joints in your body. The purpose of a facet block is to determine whether back pain is due to a joint problem. The idea is to inject some local anesthetic into a joint and determine whether that relieves the patient of their symptoms. As the purpose of the facet block is to ascertain whether back pain can be relived by the injection of local anesthetic, it is very important that the patient have the typical pain that they are complaining of before and at the scheduled time of the test. You are no doubt aware of activities that will produce your typical pain. If you do not have pain on the day of your test then you should try and do activities to produce pain. This may include walking, sitting or bending over repeatedly. The test is carried out in the x-ray department by a radiologist. The radiologist will inject some local anesthetic into your skin in order to numb it. A needle is then placed into the facet joint using x-ray monitoring. Local anesthetic is then injected into the joint. Occasionally, your doctor may ask that other medications also be injected into the joint as well.
Fascia Sheet of fibrous tissue that envelops body beneath skin and encloses muscle.
Flexor Tendon The flexor tendon make the wrist and fingers move.
Fractures A fracture is a cracked or broken bone. Your doctor may put the body part of the fracture in a splint or cast to immobilize the fracture.
Fusion A fusion procedure is a way of stabilizing the spine. This is achieved by attaching bone of one vertebra to another vertebra. Most fusion’s involved taking bone from the pelvis and packing it in between the vertebra which are to be fused. Occasionally homogeneous bone (bone from a human donor) may be needed. This bone is obtained from a bone bank (similar to a blood bank). It has undergone an extensive processing procedure outlined by the Federal Government. Occasionally, your surgeon may suggest that some metal hardware be implanted at the time of the fusion. The purpose of these implants is to hold the vertebra rigidly while the bone fusion is healing.
Ganglion Deep cyst filled with fluid.
Gastrocnemius Muscle Calf Muscle.
Hamstring Muscle in the back of the thigh.
Hemarthrosis Discharge or escape of blood from a vessel into a joint or its synovial cavity.
Hemivertebra A congenital anomaly of the spine caused by incomplete development of one side of a vertebra resulting in a wedge shape.
Impingement A "pinching."
Inflammatory Arthritis A chronic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout, can cause swelling and inflammation in the joint lining. As the disease progress, cartilage may be worn away and the joint may stiffen.
Internal Derangement A mechanical abnormal excessive in a joint such as dislocation of semilunar cartilage's of knee joint.
Intervertebral Discs Is a cushion between adjacent vertebral bodies. Made like a jelly donut, the outer fibrous ring surrounds a soft jelly-like center. The fluid like center serves as a shock absorbing mechanism.
Instability Abnormal excessive joint movement from any cause
Laminectomy The lamina is the bone at the back of the vertebra. Thus, the lamina makes up a significant part of the ring in which the spinal nerves run. Laminectomy involves removing the back half (laminate) of the spinal canal. The usual reason for doing this is to enlarge the canal and make more room for the spinal nerves.
Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Runs on the outside of the knee and limits "bowleg" type stresses.
Ligaments Are tough fibrous bands that join together individual vertebrae and form the capsule at the facet joint.
Lumbar Fusion Fusion involves the bonding together of two or more vertebrae. It takes many months for this bone healing to occur. For this reason, you should not participate in any forms of exercise during the first three (3) months except for the exercises shown to you in the hospital. Bending and twisting are to be avoided as they can cause disruption at the fusion area.
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Runs down the inside of the knee joint connecting the femur to the tibia and limiting the knock-knee type stresses.
Meniscus 1. Lateral Meniscus 2. Medial Meniscus Semilunar cartilage that absorbs shocks in the joint. 1. On the outside of your knee. 2. On the inside of your knee.
MRI Scan Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a valuable test. This test is used to show the soft tissues such as disc, muscles, spinal cord or spinal nerves. An MRI scanner is basically a very large magnet. It does not use any form of irradiation. The patient lies down on a table which is then moved into the machine. The tunnel in which the patient lies is not very large and thus some patients with claustrophobia have difficulty with this test. If you are uncomfortable in enclosed spaces, mention this to the doctor and MRI scanning staff. Often it is possible to provide a relaxing medication prior to this test to make it less stressful. As the test is performed, the magnet is turned on and off. This makes a lot of noise but does not hurt and it is not a cause of alarm. It is important to remain as still as possible during the MRI scan. Most MRI scans take one (1) to one and a half (1-1/2) hours to complete.
Myelogram The myelogram is a diagnostic test which is performed in the x-ray department. It consists of five or six x-rays taken following an injection of a special substance that can be seen on x-ray films. It is used to outline the spinal cord in the spinal canal and a portion of the nerves that leave the spinal cord at each vertebral level. The radiologist will inject a local anesthetic into the skin and tissues over the lower part of your spine and wait until the numbing occurs. Once this has happened, the needle for the myelogram will be used to introduce the dye substance into the spinal canal. It is recommended that a patient not have a lot to eat prior to a myelogram. The reason for this is that occasionally one can experience nausea and vomiting after the test. After the myelogram, a rare patient may experience headache or backache. In order to avoid these problems, it is recommended that patients stay horizontal in bed for several hours following the test. It is important to drink lots of fluids. You should make sure you let you doctors know if you have a history of seizures. In addition, you should make sure that your doctors know what medications you are taking before a myelogram is carried out. If You have an allergy to iodine or to shellfish, you should also inform you doctor.
Nerve Root Injection The purpose of a nerve root injection test is to see whether leg pain can be relieved by a local anesthetic placed around the nerve as it exits the spine. There is no specific preparation for a nerve root injection. The test is performed in the x-ray department. It is very important that you have your typical pain before and at the scheduled time of the nerve root injection. You are no doubt aware of the activities that will produce your typical pain. If you do not have pain prior to the test, the we suggest that you do some activities such as walking or sitting in order to produce your pain. The radiologist will inject some local anesthetic to freeze the skin in a small area of your low back. A needle is then placed through the skin near the nerve. The doctor is assisted by an x-ray picture on a television screen or monitor. Local anesthetic is injected around the nerve. It is very important that you note and record what happens to your pain following the nerve root injection. If there is any change in the location, character, or amount of pain, then you should write this down. You should also write down the number of hours that you experienced a change in the pain. This will help your doctor considerably in helping to find out if there is a problem with your nerve.
Osgood-Schlatterr's Disease Apophysitis of the tibial tubercle.
Osteoarthritis/Degenerative Arthritis A "wear & tear" arthritis affecting any joint.
Osteochondritis Inflammation of bone and cartilage.
Osteomyelitis Inflammation of bone due to pyogenic infection.
Patella The patella is a flat, triangular bone about two inches wide. It is one of the parts that make up your knee joint.
Patellar Tendon Fibrous cord that connects the patella to the shinbone.
Plica Bands Folds in the joint lining.
Portal Tiny incision created to allow insertion of fluid, arthroscope, and instruments.
Posterior Collateral Ligament (PCL) Connects the femur and tibia, limiting the backward motion of the tibia.
Quadriceps A muscle on the front of the thigh that holds the patella against the thigh bone and helps straighten your leg.
Radiculopathy Inflammation of nerve roots at spinal level.
Reduction Correction of Fracture 1. Closed Reduction - manipulative reduction of a fracture without incision. 2. Open reduction - reduction of a fracture after the incision into the fracture site.
Retinaculae Fibrous bands on the sides of the knee; they help hold the patella in place.
Rheumatoid Arthritis A chronic inflammatory disease of one or multiple joints.
Rupture Complete tearing or disrupting of tissue.
Scoliosis. Lateral deviation of the normal vertical line of the spine. Scholiasts consists of a lateral curvature of the spine with rotation of the vertebrae within the curve.
Spondylitis Is an inflammatory disease of the spine.
Spondylolisthesis An anterior displacement of a vertebra on the adjacent lower vertebra.
Sprain Wrenching of a joint, with partial rupture of its ligament.
Strain To over exercise; to use to an extreme and harmful degree, or overexertion of some part of the musculature.
Subluxation Incomplete or partial displacement of a joint.
Surgical Neck Constricted part of the humerus just below the tuberosity.
Synovitis Inflammation of syovial membrane, usually painful, particularly in motion, characterized by fluctuating swelling, due to effusion in synovial sac.
Synovium The lubricative lining of all joints and tendon sheaths.
Tendonitis An inflammation of tendons or tendon-muscle attachments.
Tendon Connects muscle to bone or cartilage.
Tibial Plateau Area at the top of tibia (flat portion).
Ulnar Nerve Your "funny bone" is really your ulnar nerve. It lies close to the surface of your elbow and provides feeling to your finger.
Valgus Deformity in which angulation is away from the midline of the body, "Knock Knee."
Varus Deformity in which angulation is toward the midline of the body, "bow leg."
X-Rays After obtaining a history and doing a physical examination, your doctor may want to obtain more information about your back and order x-rays. These are a common test and are useful in showing the bones of your spine. You may be concerned about radiation. Fortunately, with advances in modern technology, the amount of irradiation from x-rays has been significantly reduced. Regular x-rays only show bone. The disc, muscles, spinal cord and nerve roots are not analyzed. Therefore, other studies may have to be obtained.
Anatomic Neck Construction of a humerus joint just below its proximal articular surface.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Connects the femur to the tibia in the center of your knee, stabilizing forward motion of the tibia on the femur.
Arthritis The inflammation of a joint.
Arthroscope The Arthroscope is an instrument used to look directly into the joints, this is used for diagnosis and treatment.
Articular Pertaining to a joint surfaces.
Articular Cartilage Line the bones, cushioning the joint.
Aspirate The draining of fluid from a joint space.
Autograft Any tissue transferred from one site to another in the same individual.
Autotransfusion Simply stated, auto transfusion makes patients their own blood donors. Prior to their scheduled operation, patients give two units of their blood which is stored in a blood bank until needed during or following their surgery.
Avulsion Tissue tearing away from a structure.
Baker's Cyst A swelling behind the knee due to escape of synovial fluid that has become enclosed in the sac or membrane.
Burring When you go through damaged cartilage into underlying bone and are unable to reach the blood supply and encourage a new fibrous covering to grow.
Bursa The bursa is a little sac with fluid. It pad and protects the tip of the joints.
Bursitis An Inflammation of the bursa.
Cartilage Tough, elastic connective tissue found in ear, nose and rib ends and linings of joints.
CAT Scan Computerized Axial Tomography is commonly referred to as a CAT scan or CT scan. This test is carried out in the x-ray department because it is a special type of x-ray. This test is used to show more detailed of the bony structures that are shown on the regular x-rays. The image on the left shows a CT scan through the lower back of a patient. The scans may also be used to create computer models of a spine such as the fractured cervical spine shown here. The CT scanner consists of a table upon which the patient lies. This table then moves through the x-ray machine. It is important that during the test the patient remain very still. The CT scan can provide very important and valuable information to your doctor. Occasionally, the doctor will ask that a myelogram be performed prior to the CT scan. In these instances, you will receive a needle into the lower back before the CT scan. Occasionally, the doctor requests that a different dye be injected into your vein-usually in the are-before the test. The CT scan takes approximately thirty minutes.
Cellulitis Inflammation of cellular tissue.
Chondromalacia Softening of cartilage under the knee cap.
Compression The process of wrapping a bandage snugly around a structure to diminish swelling.
Condyle A rounded process that occurs on many bones.
Contusion Injury to a part without a break in the skin: a bruise; from a direct blow.
Cervical Spine The portion of the vertebral column contained in the neck, consisting of seven cervical vertebral between the skull and rib cage.
Crepitus A dry, crackling sound associated with joint motion.
Compensatory Curve A spinal deformity, a secondary curve located above or below the structural curvature, which develops in order to maintain normal body alignment.
Debridement The removal of devitalized tissue from a traumatic of infected lesion until surrounding healthy tissue is exposed.
Discectomy A discectomy involves removal of part or most of a lumbar or cervical disc (nucleus). The usual reason for carrying out a discectomy is that part of the disc has become distorted and is pushing on a nerve that goes from your back down the leg or from your neck down your arm.
Discogram A discogram is used to show the structure and integrity of the disc. This test is done in the x-rays department. The discogram may be performed by a specialist called a radiologist. It is advisable to drink only clear liquids on the day of your test until it has been completed. The radiologist will numb your skin before the discogram is performed. Once the skin has been numbed, a needle is placed through the skin into the center of the disc. Accurate placement of the needle is assured by using x-rays. When the needle is in a good position, dye is injected. The radiologist will ask the patient questions about any discomfort or sensations that may be felt during the injection of the dye. Accurate answers to the questions is a very important part of the discogram. If a disc is normal, the dye will remain in the center as the jelly does in a jelly doughnut. If there is a tear in the outer part of the disc, then the x-rays may show that the dye leaks from the center to the outside of the disc. A discogram usually takes about thirty (30) minutes to complete. It is advisable to bring somebody with you when having this test. You may receive some sedation. It is not recommended that you drive a care or use public transportation to return home.
Dislocation Total displacement of a part.
Ecchymosis Small hemorrhage spot in the skin or mucus membrane forming a non-elevated, rounded or irregular blue or purplish patch (bruise).
Effusion Fluid on or in a joint.
Epicondylitis Epicondylitis is an inflammation of a muscle or tendon at the elbow. If the outside of the elbow is inflamed this is called lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow). Medical epicondylitis occurs when the inside of the elbow is inflamed.
Epiphysitis Inflammation of any epiphysis (growth center/end of long bone).
Facet Block Your back has joints which allow you to bend forward and backwards. These joints, called facet joints, can be damaged just like other joints in your body. The purpose of a facet block is to determine whether back pain is due to a joint problem. The idea is to inject some local anesthetic into a joint and determine whether that relieves the patient of their symptoms. As the purpose of the facet block is to ascertain whether back pain can be relived by the injection of local anesthetic, it is very important that the patient have the typical pain that they are complaining of before and at the scheduled time of the test. You are no doubt aware of activities that will produce your typical pain. If you do not have pain on the day of your test then you should try and do activities to produce pain. This may include walking, sitting or bending over repeatedly. The test is carried out in the x-ray department by a radiologist. The radiologist will inject some local anesthetic into your skin in order to numb it. A needle is then placed into the facet joint using x-ray monitoring. Local anesthetic is then injected into the joint. Occasionally, your doctor may ask that other medications also be injected into the joint as well.
Fascia Sheet of fibrous tissue that envelops body beneath skin and encloses muscle.
Flexor Tendon The flexor tendon make the wrist and fingers move.
Fractures A fracture is a cracked or broken bone. Your doctor may put the body part of the fracture in a splint or cast to immobilize the fracture.
Fusion A fusion procedure is a way of stabilizing the spine. This is achieved by attaching bone of one vertebra to another vertebra. Most fusion’s involved taking bone from the pelvis and packing it in between the vertebra which are to be fused. Occasionally homogeneous bone (bone from a human donor) may be needed. This bone is obtained from a bone bank (similar to a blood bank). It has undergone an extensive processing procedure outlined by the Federal Government. Occasionally, your surgeon may suggest that some metal hardware be implanted at the time of the fusion. The purpose of these implants is to hold the vertebra rigidly while the bone fusion is healing.
Ganglion Deep cyst filled with fluid.
Gastrocnemius Muscle Calf Muscle.
Hamstring Muscle in the back of the thigh.
Hemarthrosis Discharge or escape of blood from a vessel into a joint or its synovial cavity.
Hemivertebra A congenital anomaly of the spine caused by incomplete development of one side of a vertebra resulting in a wedge shape.
Impingement A "pinching."
Inflammatory Arthritis A chronic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout, can cause swelling and inflammation in the joint lining. As the disease progress, cartilage may be worn away and the joint may stiffen.
Internal Derangement A mechanical abnormal excessive in a joint such as dislocation of semilunar cartilage's of knee joint.
Intervertebral Discs Is a cushion between adjacent vertebral bodies. Made like a jelly donut, the outer fibrous ring surrounds a soft jelly-like center. The fluid like center serves as a shock absorbing mechanism.
Instability Abnormal excessive joint movement from any cause
Laminectomy The lamina is the bone at the back of the vertebra. Thus, the lamina makes up a significant part of the ring in which the spinal nerves run. Laminectomy involves removing the back half (laminate) of the spinal canal. The usual reason for doing this is to enlarge the canal and make more room for the spinal nerves.
Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Runs on the outside of the knee and limits "bowleg" type stresses.
Ligaments Are tough fibrous bands that join together individual vertebrae and form the capsule at the facet joint.
Lumbar Fusion Fusion involves the bonding together of two or more vertebrae. It takes many months for this bone healing to occur. For this reason, you should not participate in any forms of exercise during the first three (3) months except for the exercises shown to you in the hospital. Bending and twisting are to be avoided as they can cause disruption at the fusion area.
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Runs down the inside of the knee joint connecting the femur to the tibia and limiting the knock-knee type stresses.
Meniscus 1. Lateral Meniscus 2. Medial Meniscus Semilunar cartilage that absorbs shocks in the joint. 1. On the outside of your knee. 2. On the inside of your knee.
MRI Scan Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a valuable test. This test is used to show the soft tissues such as disc, muscles, spinal cord or spinal nerves. An MRI scanner is basically a very large magnet. It does not use any form of irradiation. The patient lies down on a table which is then moved into the machine. The tunnel in which the patient lies is not very large and thus some patients with claustrophobia have difficulty with this test. If you are uncomfortable in enclosed spaces, mention this to the doctor and MRI scanning staff. Often it is possible to provide a relaxing medication prior to this test to make it less stressful. As the test is performed, the magnet is turned on and off. This makes a lot of noise but does not hurt and it is not a cause of alarm. It is important to remain as still as possible during the MRI scan. Most MRI scans take one (1) to one and a half (1-1/2) hours to complete.
Myelogram The myelogram is a diagnostic test which is performed in the x-ray department. It consists of five or six x-rays taken following an injection of a special substance that can be seen on x-ray films. It is used to outline the spinal cord in the spinal canal and a portion of the nerves that leave the spinal cord at each vertebral level. The radiologist will inject a local anesthetic into the skin and tissues over the lower part of your spine and wait until the numbing occurs. Once this has happened, the needle for the myelogram will be used to introduce the dye substance into the spinal canal. It is recommended that a patient not have a lot to eat prior to a myelogram. The reason for this is that occasionally one can experience nausea and vomiting after the test. After the myelogram, a rare patient may experience headache or backache. In order to avoid these problems, it is recommended that patients stay horizontal in bed for several hours following the test. It is important to drink lots of fluids. You should make sure you let you doctors know if you have a history of seizures. In addition, you should make sure that your doctors know what medications you are taking before a myelogram is carried out. If You have an allergy to iodine or to shellfish, you should also inform you doctor.
Nerve Root Injection The purpose of a nerve root injection test is to see whether leg pain can be relieved by a local anesthetic placed around the nerve as it exits the spine. There is no specific preparation for a nerve root injection. The test is performed in the x-ray department. It is very important that you have your typical pain before and at the scheduled time of the nerve root injection. You are no doubt aware of the activities that will produce your typical pain. If you do not have pain prior to the test, the we suggest that you do some activities such as walking or sitting in order to produce your pain. The radiologist will inject some local anesthetic to freeze the skin in a small area of your low back. A needle is then placed through the skin near the nerve. The doctor is assisted by an x-ray picture on a television screen or monitor. Local anesthetic is injected around the nerve. It is very important that you note and record what happens to your pain following the nerve root injection. If there is any change in the location, character, or amount of pain, then you should write this down. You should also write down the number of hours that you experienced a change in the pain. This will help your doctor considerably in helping to find out if there is a problem with your nerve.
Osgood-Schlatterr's Disease Apophysitis of the tibial tubercle.
Osteoarthritis/Degenerative Arthritis A "wear & tear" arthritis affecting any joint.
Osteochondritis Inflammation of bone and cartilage.
Osteomyelitis Inflammation of bone due to pyogenic infection.
Patella The patella is a flat, triangular bone about two inches wide. It is one of the parts that make up your knee joint.
Patellar Tendon Fibrous cord that connects the patella to the shinbone.
Plica Bands Folds in the joint lining.
Portal Tiny incision created to allow insertion of fluid, arthroscope, and instruments.
Posterior Collateral Ligament (PCL) Connects the femur and tibia, limiting the backward motion of the tibia.
Quadriceps A muscle on the front of the thigh that holds the patella against the thigh bone and helps straighten your leg.
Radiculopathy Inflammation of nerve roots at spinal level.
Reduction Correction of Fracture 1. Closed Reduction - manipulative reduction of a fracture without incision. 2. Open reduction - reduction of a fracture after the incision into the fracture site.
Retinaculae Fibrous bands on the sides of the knee; they help hold the patella in place.
Rheumatoid Arthritis A chronic inflammatory disease of one or multiple joints.
Rupture Complete tearing or disrupting of tissue.
Scoliosis. Lateral deviation of the normal vertical line of the spine. Scholiasts consists of a lateral curvature of the spine with rotation of the vertebrae within the curve.
Spondylitis Is an inflammatory disease of the spine.
Spondylolisthesis An anterior displacement of a vertebra on the adjacent lower vertebra.
Sprain Wrenching of a joint, with partial rupture of its ligament.
Strain To over exercise; to use to an extreme and harmful degree, or overexertion of some part of the musculature.
Subluxation Incomplete or partial displacement of a joint.
Surgical Neck Constricted part of the humerus just below the tuberosity.
Synovitis Inflammation of syovial membrane, usually painful, particularly in motion, characterized by fluctuating swelling, due to effusion in synovial sac.
Synovium The lubricative lining of all joints and tendon sheaths.
Tendonitis An inflammation of tendons or tendon-muscle attachments.
Tendon Connects muscle to bone or cartilage.
Tibial Plateau Area at the top of tibia (flat portion).
Ulnar Nerve Your "funny bone" is really your ulnar nerve. It lies close to the surface of your elbow and provides feeling to your finger.
Valgus Deformity in which angulation is away from the midline of the body, "Knock Knee."
Varus Deformity in which angulation is toward the midline of the body, "bow leg."
X-Rays After obtaining a history and doing a physical examination, your doctor may want to obtain more information about your back and order x-rays. These are a common test and are useful in showing the bones of your spine. You may be concerned about radiation. Fortunately, with advances in modern technology, the amount of irradiation from x-rays has been significantly reduced. Regular x-rays only show bone. The disc, muscles, spinal cord and nerve roots are not analyzed. Therefore, other studies may have to be obtained.
©Copyright Freiberg Spine Institute 2002