|
Clinical Services (Orthopedic Surgery):
|
|
Orthopedic Glossary
|
|
|
|
|
This reference guide provides definitions for common orthopedic health terms that you may hear when your child is being treated for an orthopedic related condition. Many terms also have links to additional information on this website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Abduction
Movement of a limb or body part away from the midline of your body
Acetabulum
The cup-shaped socket of the hip joint
Adaptive Equipment
Equipment that supports a child's positioning needs such as seating, standing, positioning and mobility, or assists with function
Adolescent Scoliosis
Lateral spinal curvature that appears before skeletal maturity
Adduction
The inward movement of an arm or leg toward the body
Adult Scoliosis
Scoliosis of any cause which is present after skeletal maturity
Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO)
A short leg brace. Usually made of lightweight plastic that is worn inside the shoe. An AFO helps with better positioning of the feet and ankles
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
The ligament, located in the center of the knee, that controls rotation and forward movement of the tibia (shin bone)
Anterior Spinal Fusion
A fusion performed on the front of the spine, usually involves replacing inter-vertebral discs with bone
Arthrogryposis
Term used to describe a number of rare, non-progressive conditions characterized by stiff joints and abnormal muscle development
Arthrotomy
A surgical procedure to open and explore a joint
Articular Cartilage
Connective tissue that reduces friction between bony surfaces; found on the
surfaces of bones within joints
Atrophy
Weakening of muscle tissue from lack of use
Avascular Necrosis (AVN)
A disease caused by the temporary or permanent loss of blood supply to bones; bone lacking blood can collapse and die
|
|
|
Bilateral
Relates to both sides of the body
Bone Age
An x-ray of the hand and wrist is compared to the average appearance of the bones at different ages. An estimate of remaining growth is obtained
Bone Graft
Pieces of bone used to create fusion. Bone graft may be obtained from the patient's iliac crest, rib, wrist, or from the bone bank
Brace, Spinal
A semi-rigid plastic device, which pushes on muscles and ribs near the spinal column. The brace is designed to decrease the abnormal spinal curvature while worn
Brachial plexus
The network of nerves that sends signals between the brain and the shoulder, arm and hand
Bursas - Fluid-filled sacs located between the bones, ligaments, or other adjacent structures which help cushion the friction in a joint
|
|
|
Capsulorraphy
A surgical procedure to tighten loose tissue around the shoulder joint
Cartilage
Connective tissue found between bones and covering the ends of the bones in joints; allows bones to move smoothly; supports and cushions the skeleton
Cervical Spine
That portion of the vertebral column contained in the neck consisting of seven cervical vertebrae between the skull and the rib cage
Clinodactyly
A bending or curvature deformity of the finger which occurs in the plane of the hand
Clubfoot
A congenital deformity of the foot usually marked by a curled shape or twisted position of the ankle and heel and toes
Compensatory Curve
In spinal deformity, a secondary curve located above or below the structural curvature, which develops in order to maintain normal body alignment
Congenital Scoliosis
Scoliosis is due to bony abnormalities of the spine present at birth. These anomalies are classified as failure of vertebral formation and/or failure of segmentation
Contraction
The tightening or shortening of a muscle during a short period of time
Contracture
Permanent contraction of a muscle
|
|
|
Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
A condition in which the head of the femur is not stable within the hip socket. If this condition goes untreated, it can lead to pain and osteoarthritis
Disc
The inter-vertebral disc is a strong, rubbery and gelatin like structure which normally separates the individual vertebral bodies and allows movement between them. Discs are usually removed from the portion of the spine undergoing anterior fusion and replaces with bone chips to create a fusion
Discectomy
The removal of all or part of an intervertebral disc (the soft tissue that acts as a shock absorber between the vertebral bodies)
Dislocation
A dislocation occurs when extreme force is put on a joint, allowing the ends of two connected bones to separate
Double Curve
Two lateral curvatures (scoliosis) in the same spine. Double major curve is two lateral curves of equal magnitude, and double thoracic curve is two thoracic curves
Dysplasia
An abnormal development of tissue; an alteration in the size, shape, and/or organization of cells or tissues
Dystonia
Impaired or disordered muscle tone
|
|
|
Enchondroma
Benign (non-cancerous) cartilage tumors seen frequently in arms and legs.
|
|
|
Femur
The thigh bone; also the biggest bone in the body
Flexion Deformity
Abnormal positioning of a bone or joint in a bent, or flexed position
Fluctuating Tone
Combination of low and high muscle tone
Fracture
A partial or complete break in the bone
|
|
|
|
Hemivertebra
A congenital anomaly of the spine caused by incomplete development of one side of a vertebra resulting in a wedge shape
High Tone
Term used to describe tight or spastic muscles
Hip Impingement
A condition in which the femoral head doesn't have a full range of motion within the acetabulum; caused by too much bone around the head and/or the socket turned backwards; causes pain and can result in damage to the cartilage and labrum
Humerus
The bone of the upper arm
Hypertonia
Increased tension in the muscles
Hypotonia
Decreased tension in the muscles
|
|
|
Idiopathic Scoliosis
A structural spinal curvature for which cause has not been established
Iliac Crest
The iliac crest is the large flat portion of the pelvis bone from which bone graft may be taken
Infantile Scoliosis
Lateral curvature of the spine that begins before age 3
IV
The intravenous line, which delivers fluid and medicines through a hollow tube inserted in a vein
|
|
|
|
Kyphosis
Curvature of the spine with the curve pointing toward the front of the body
|
|
|
Ligament
Soft tissue structure that connects two bones together. Rupture or tearing can lead to pain and/or dysfunction of that joint
Lordosis
An anterior angulation of the spine in the sagittal plane. Contrast to kyphosis
Lumbar Curve
A spinal curvature whose apex is between the first and fourth lumbar vertebrae (also known as lumbar scoliosis)
Lumbosacral
Pertaining to the lumbar and sacral regions of the back
|
|
|
Macrodactyly
Abnormal enlargement of one or more fingers or toes
Meniscus
A curved part of cartilage in the knees and other joints
Metacarpal
Long bones in the palm, between the wrist and fingers
Muscle tone
The amount of tension or resistance to movement in a muscle
|
|
|
Neuromuscular Scoliosis
A form of scoliosis caused by a neurological disorder of the central nervous system or muscle
|
|
|
Osteoarthritis
A type of arthritis caused by the inflammation, breakdown, and eventual loss of articular cartilage in the joints
Osteochondroma
A benign tumor that contains both bone and cartilage and usually occurs near the end of a long bone
Osteolysis
Destruction of bone caused by disease, infection, or loss of blood supply
Osteophyte
An outgrowth of bone which forms around joints, deforming the joints and limiting their movements; commonly found in joints with osteoarthritis
Osteotomy
A surgical procedure in which bones are cut and re-orientated, with the goal of improving upper extremity function
|
|
|
Patella
Kneecap
Pavlik Harness
A type of brace used on infants to improve the position of the femoral head in the acetabulum
Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO)
A type of surgery in which the bones surrounding the acetabulum are cut and repositioned in order to better align the femoral head within the acetabulum
Perthes Disease
A condition in which the femoral head dies because of a temporary loss of blood supply to it
Phalanx
Any of the bones (or phalanges) of the fingers or toes
Polydactyly
The presence of more than the normal number of fingers or toes
Posterior Fusion
A technique of stabilizing two or more vertebra by bone grafting
Prosthesis
An artificial body part replacement
|
|
|
|
Radioulnar synostosis
An abnormal bony or soft tissue connection between the radius and ulna, the two bones of the forearm
Radius
The long bone of forearm that rotates around the fixed ulna allowing for palm down and palm up positions of wrist
Range of Motion (ROM)
The amount of movement present at a person's joint
Rib Hump
The bump formed by ribs on the curve, caused by rotation of the spine and attached ribs
Risser Sign
The top of the pelvis bone grows in predictable stages referred to as Risser stages. These give some indication of growth remaining in the spine and rest of the skeleton
|
|
|
Sacrum
Curved triangular bone at the base of the spine, consisting of five fused vertebrae known as sacral vertebrae
Sclerosis
A hardening of tissue; often occurs in advanced stages of arthritis
Scoliosis
Sideways curvature of the spine greater than 15 degrees
Skeletal Maturity
When the bones, including the spine, are finished growing, skeletal maturity has been reached
Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE)
A condition in which the growing end of the femur slips off from the rest of the femur
Spinal Column
The spinal column is made up of individual vertebral bones, ligaments, and discs. It surrounds the spinal cord
Spinal Cord
The spinal cord goes through the spinal column and consists of nerves, which carry and receive signals to and from the brain, arms, legs, and many internal organs
Spondylitis
An inflammatory disease of the spine
Spondylolisthesis
An anterior displacement of a vertebra on the adjacent lower vertebra
Sprain
A partial or complete tear of a ligament
Strain
A partial or complete tear of a muscle or tendon
Stress Fracture
A bone injury caused by overuse
Syndactyly
Term used to describe webbed or conjoined fingers
Synovial membrane
A tissue which lines the joints and seals it into a joint capsule. The synovial membrane secretes synovial fluid (a clear, sticky fluid) around the joint to lubricate it
|
|
|
Tendons
Fibrous cords that connect muscle to bone, and render function across a joint
Tendon Transfer
Surgical procedure in which the tendon is separated for its normal attachment and reattached in a different place. The goal of this procedure is to improve range of motion in the shoulder, wrist, elbow and hand
Tibia
The shin bone, or larger bone of the lower leg
Trigger thumb
Refers to a thumb that clicks, catches, or locks as the tip of the thumb moves from a flexed (bent) to extended (straight) position
Total Joint Replacement
A surgery done to replace a worn out joint
|
|
|
Ulna
Forearm bone that runs from the tip of the elbow to the little finger side of the wrist
|
|
|
Vertebra
Individual bones which make up the spinal column
Vertebral Body
The front portion of the individual vertebra
|
|