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Abduct - To move
away from the body.
Acromioclavicular Dislocation - Disruption
of shoulder ligaments of the normal joint between the acromion and the
clavicle.
Adduct - To move toward the body.
Anesthesia (local) - Anesthesia
confined to one part of the body.
Anesthetic (epidural) - An
anesthetic injected in the fluid-filled sac (the dura) around the spine,
which partially numbs the abdomen and legs.
Ankle Sprain - Stretching and slight
or partial tearing of one or more ligaments in the ankle. See
Encyclopedia
Ankylosis - Fusion of bones across a
joint.
Anterior - The front or forward facing
direction. (Your mouth is on the anterior portion of your skull.)
Antibiotic - A chemical substance
produced by a microorganism which has the capacity, in dilute solutions,
to inhibit the growth of or to kill infectious germs.
Anti-inflammatory - something which
decreases inflammation or swelling (e.g., ice, aspirin).
Anti-inflammatory Agent (non-steroidal)
- Anti-inflammatory agents that are not steroids.They have
painkiller and fever reducing actions.
Anti-inflammatory Agent (steroidal)
- Agents capable of suppressing or counteracting the
inflammatory process by acting on body mechanisms. They are used primarily
in the treatment of chronic arthritic conditions and certain soft tissue
disorders associated with pain and inflammation.
Arthralgia - Pain in a joint.
Arthritis - An inflammatory condition
that affects joints. (e.g., rheumatism or gout). See
Encyclopedia
Arthrocentesis - A procedure where by
a needle in introduced into a joint space for the purpose of removing
joint fluid. This procedure can also be therapeutic if an anesthetic or
corticosteroid medication is injected into the joint during the procedure.
Arthrodesis - The surgical
immobilization of a joint (joint fusion).
Arthropathy - Any disease that affects
joints.
Arthroplasty - Partial or total
replacement of a joint with artificial components.
Arthroscopic Knee Repair - A fiber
optic procedure, used in the surgical repair of any of several knee
ligaments including the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or of the knee
cartilages (meniscus). See
Encyclopedia
Arthroscopy - Looking inside the joint
with a small, lighted telescope.
Arthrotomy - A surgical incision into
a joint.
Aseptic Necrosis - Condition in which
poor blood supply to an area of bone leads to bone death. Also called
avascular necrosis and osteonecrosis. See
Encyclopedia.
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Back
Pain, Low - Symptoms in the low back can relate to the bony
portion of the spine, to discs between the vertebrae, spinal cord and
nerves, muscles of the low back, or even internal organs of the pelvis and
abdomen. The low back, or lumbar area, functions in structural support,
movement, and protection of certain body tissue.
Baker’s Cyst - A cyst or pouch that
occurs behind the knee, in the synovial lining of the knee. Synovial fluid
escapes from the knee joint and into the cyst in people who suffer from
degenerative and other joint disease. Aspiration of the cyst is
therapeutic only temporarily since recurrence is common. Larger cysts can
be removed surgically.
Benign - Something that does not
metastize. Treatment or removal is curative.
Bennett’s Fracture - A
fracture-dislocation of the thumb.
Biopsy - Procedure that involves
obtaining a tissue specimen for microscopic analysis to establish a
precise diagnosis. Biopsies can be accomplished with a biopsy needle
(passed through the skin into the organ in question) or by open surgical
incision.
Bone Banks - Centers for acquiring,
characterizing, and storing bones or bone tissue for future use.
Bone Cements - Adhesives used to fix
prosthetic devices to bones and to cement bone to bone in difficult
fractures.
Bone Marrow - The soft, spongy tissue
found in the center of most large bones that produces the cellular
components of blood: white cells, red cells and platelets (hemopoiesis).
It is also the most radiation sensitive tissue of the body.
Bone - The hard, calcified tissue of
the skeleton of vertebrate animals.
Bulging Disc - A condition that
results in the abnormal protrusion (bulging, herniation) of a vertebral
disc from its normal position. The displaced disc may exert force on a
nearby nerve root causing the typical neurological symptoms of radiating
pain (to an extremity), numbness, tingling and weakness. Recurrent
episodes of severe back pain are common.
Bursa - A bursa is a closed
fluid-filled sac that functions as a gliding surface to reduce friction
between tissues of the body.
Bursectomy - Surgical drainage and
removal of an infected bursa.
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Calcaneal
Spur - A heel spur. A bony growth off of the heel often
resulting in recurrent pain.
Carpal Tunnel Release - An orthopedic
surgical procedure, which relieves the pressure exerted on the median
nerve within the carpal tunnel in the wrist. This surgery may be performed
conventionally via a small incision or using a fiber optic scope (endoscopic
carpal tunnel repair).
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - A nerve
disorder in the hand that causes pain and loss of feeling.
Cartilage - Connective tissue
containing collagen type II and large amounts of proteoglycan,
particularly chondroitin sulphate. Cartilage is more flexible and
compressible than bone; it covers the articular surfaces (bone ends).
Cervical - Pertaining to the neck or
to the neck of any organ or structure.
Cervical Spine - Neck area of the
spine.
Chondromalacia - The progressive
erosion of cartilage, common in the knee joint where it is known as
chondromalacia patella.
See
Encyclopedia
Coccydynia - Pain in the coccyx
(tailbone).
Collateral Ligaments - A number of
ligaments on either side of a joint having a hinge like movement. They
occur at the elbow, knee, wrist, hands and feet.
Colles Fracture - A common fracture of
the wrist joint due to a fall on an outstretched hand. Colles fracture is
also referred to as the silver fork deformity.
Compartment Syndrome - Build up of
pressure in muscles, secondary to injury.
Compression Fracture - A spinal
fracture, more specifically of a vertebral body. Compression fractions
result in a loss of HEIGHT of the vertebral body on X-ray. May occur in
any region of the spine. Commonly in post-menopausal women who are subject
to osteoporosis.
Contracture - A condition of fixed
high resistance to passive stretch of a muscle, resulting from fibrosis of
the tissues supporting the muscles or the joints, or from disorders of the
muscle fibers.
Contusion - A bruise, an injury of a
body part without a break in the skin.
Cramp - A painful, involuntary,
spasmodic muscle contraction.
Cramp, Writer’s - A dystonia
(painful contracture) that affects the muscles of the hand and sometimes
the forearm and only occurs during handwriting. Similar focal dystonias
have also been called typist’s cramp, pianist’s cramp, musician’s
cramp, and golfer’s cramp.
Cruciate - A cross or “X” shape.
There are two cruciate ligaments in the human knee.
Cruciate (anterior) - One
the most commonly injured ligaments which stabilizes the knee joint. The
cruciate ligaments are cross-shaped within the knee joint. The posterior
cruciate is deeper (more posterior) within the joint and not as commonly
injured as the anterior cruciate. See
Encyclopedia
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Debridement
- A term of French origin for the removal of dead, infected or
foreign material from a wound.
Deep Venous Thrombosis - A blood clot
that forms in a vein resulting in obstruction of venous flow. Most common
in the lower extremities.
See
Encyclopedia
Degenerative Joint Disease - A form of
arthritis that results in the destruction of the articular cartilage that
line the joints. Seen predominately in the larger weight bearing joints of
the hips, knees and spine, be seen in the small joints of the hands.
Disc - Material between spinal
vertebrae that provide a cushion-like support against shock. See
Encyclopedia
Dislocate - To put out of place, out
of joint or out of position.
Dorsiflexion - To bend the toes toward
the head.
Dupuytren’s Contracture - A painless
thickening of the connective tissue in the palmar hand that can lead to
difficulty extending the digits. Causes include hand trauma and genetic
predisposition.
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Ecchymosis
- Internal bruising or bleeding which causes our skin to turn
“black and blue.”
Edema - Swelling of tissues as a
result of disease or injury.
Etiology - Cause of a disease.
Extend - To straighten.
Extension - The movement by which the
two elements of any jointed part is drawn away from each other.
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Femur
- The largest bone in the body, extending from the hip to the
knee (thigh bone).
Fixation - The act or operation of
holding, suturing or fastening in a fixed position. The condition of being
held in a fixed position.
Flex - To bend.
Fracture - A break or rupture in the
bone.
Frozen Shoulder - This disorder
results from any conditions that enforce prolonged immobility of the
shoulder joint. There is marked restriction of range of motion. Physical
therapy and corticosteroid injections may be helpful in some cases.
Surgery will be required for more advanced cases.
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Glenoid
- The portion of the scapula (shoulder blade) that forms the
cup segment of the shoulder joint.
Golfer’s Elbow - Inflammation of the
tendons, which insert at the medical epicondyle (of the humerus) at the
elbow. Symptoms include pain with forced flexion of the wrist joint.
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Hallux
Valgus - A swelling or deformity at the head of the proximal
bone of the great toe (big toe).
Hemorrhage - To bleed.
Herniate - To protrude through an
abnormal body opening (outside normal margins).
Hip Arthroplasty - Surgery to replace
all or part of the hip joint with an artificial device that re-establishes
normal hip joint motion. Indicated in cases of severe intractable
degenerative arthritis.
Hip Fracture - A fracture of the hip
commonly occurs in the neck of the femur (thigh bone). The elderly and
those who suffer from osteoporosis are at greatest risk.
Hypercoaguable - State describing
abnormally thick blood.
Hypertrophy - Tissue or organ
enlargement.
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Knee
Arthroplasty - Surgery involving the replacement of the knee
joint with artificial components, which reestablishes normal joint
function. Indicated in cases of knee fracture or degenerative arthritis (DJD)
unresponsive to medical therapy.
Knee Sprain - Any injury to the
different ligaments, which stabilize the knee joint. Knee sprains are
characterized by knee pain, swelling and tenderness with range of motion.
Completely torn ligaments may require surgical repair to reestablish knee
joint stability.
See
Encyclopedia
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Lateral
- The outside (away from) portion of our body parts. Your ear
is lateral to your nose.
Ligament - Fibrous tissue that
attaches bone to bone.
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Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI) - A study of the soft tissues and
structures inside the knee or other joint or body part. Imaging has
greatly improved the ability of a physician to pinpoint a correct and
accurate diagnosis.
Malignant - Tending to become
progressively worse and to result in death. Having the properties of
multiplying, invasion and metastasis, said of tumors.
Medial - Toward the inside or center
of the body. (Your big toe is medial to your small toe.)
Medial Collateral Sprain (MCL) - MCL
injuries are classified as grades I-III. Grade I injuries appear normal in
an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), but there is subcutaneous tissue
swelling (edema). Grade III injuries indicate a complete disruption of the
ligament with associated soft tissue swelling (edema), and hemorrhage.
Medical Collateral Ligament - A
ligament connecting the thigh bone to the shin bone on the inner side of
your knee.
Meniscus - A “C” shaped cartilage
in the knee which provides a stabilization system for the knee and a
measure of shock absorption.
See
Encyclopedia
Muscle - Body tissues which consist of
cells that contract when lengthened or straightened.
Myozitis - Inflammation of the muscle.
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Nerve
- One or more fibers or bundles of fibers which form a part of
a system in the body that conveys impulses of sensation, motion, etc.,
between the spinal cord or brain and other body parts.
Nerve Root - Where a group of nerves
exit from the spinal canal.
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Orthopedic
(or Orthopaedic) - The branch of medicine, which studies,
muscles, bones, and related soft tissues.
Ossification - The formation of bone,
the transformation of fibrous tissue or of cartilage into a bony
substance.
Osteoarthropathy - A condition that
describes the broadening or thickening of the tips of the fingers (and
toes). Often this finding on physical examination can be quite subtle and
easily overlooked. Clubbing may be seen in a wide variety of
cardiovascular conditions — most of them associated with a decrease in
blood oxygen.
Osteophytes - Abnormal projections of
bone.
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Palpate
- To touch, or feel.
Periostitis - Inflammation of the
fibrous covering (outer layer) of a bone.
Physical Therapy - The treatment of
disease or injury through physical or mechanical means including, but not
limited to: ice, heat, massage, ultrasound and exercise.
Pivot - To turn.
Pronate - To turn, facing downward.
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Radiate
- To travel outward from a point. “The pain radiates from my
neck to my elbow.”
Retinaculum - Connective tissue
similar to a ligament, but more expansive — e.g. around the kneecaps.
Rheumatoid Arthritis - Chronic
inflammatory disease with destruction of joints. Considered by some to be
an autoimmune disorder in which immune complexes formed in joints excite
an inflammatory response towards own tissues.
Rotator Cuff - The group of muscles
which comprise the shoulder.
See
Encyclopedia
Runners’ Condition - A condition
where the kneecap (patella) rubs on the surface of the femur rather than
following its normal tracking over the knee joint. This condition is due
to stress or overuse. Symptoms include knee pain, just under the kneecap
after running, progressing to knee pain at rest. Treatment includes rest
and stretching exercises for the quadriceps and hamstring muscles.
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Strain
- To wear out beyond a normal limit, often causing micro or
tiny tears.
Subluxation - To partially dislocate.
Supinate - To turn, facing upward.
(When you collect change at the tollbooth, you supinate your palm.)
Surgery - The branch of medicine where
physical deformity or disease is treated by an operative procedure.
Suture - Usually a synthetic based
line that is minimally reactive in biological tissue. Commonly used are
nylon, prolene and gut. Absorbable suture will dissolve over time (vicryl
and chromic).
Syndrome - A set of symptoms that
characterize a disorder or disease.
Synovial Membrane - A thin tissue that
lines the capsule surrounding the joint.
Synovitis - Inflammation of a synovial
membrane. It is usually painful, particularly on motion and is
characterized by a fluctuating swelling due to effusion within a synovial
sac.
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Tendonitis
(or Tendinitis) - An inflammation (swelling) of the tendon.
Tendon - Fibrous tissue, which
connects muscle to bone.
Tennis Elbow - Inflammation at the
lateral epicondyle (bony process of the humerus) of the elbow and the
tendons insertions. It has earned this name because of the common
occurrence in tennis players (constant dorsiflexion of the wrist.)
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Varus
- An abnormal position in which part of a limb is twisted
inward, toward the midline (opposite of valgus).
Vasculitis - Inflammation of the blood
vessel walls.
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Weight
Bearing - Ability to
tolerate carrying your weight on your feet while walking.
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