Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures Flashcards
Culture and Sensitivity (C and S)
Laboratory test that grows a colony of bacteria removed from an infected area in order to identify the specific infecting bacteria and then determine its sensitivity to a variety of antibiotics
Biopsy (BX, bx)
Piece of tissue removed by syringe and needle, knife, punch, or brush to examine under a microscope. Used to aid in diagnosis
Exfoliative Cytology
Scraping cells from tissue and then examining them under a microscope
Frozen Section (FS)
Thin piece of tissue cut from a frozen specimen for rapid examination under a microscope
Fungal Scrapings
Scrapings, taken with a curette or scraper, of tissue from lesions are placed on a growth medium and examined under a microscope to identify fungal growth
Allograft
Skin graft from one person to another; donor is usually a cadaver. Also called ‘homograft.’
Autograft
Skin graft form a person’s own body
Dermatome
Instrument for cutting the skin or thin transplants of skin
Dermatoplasty
Skin grafting; transplantation of skin
Skin Graft (SG)
Transfer of skin from a normal area to cover another site. Used to treat burn victims and after some surgical procedures. Also called ‘dermatoplasty.’
Xengraft
Skin graft from an animal of another species (usually a pig) to a human. Also called ‘heterograft.’
Cauterization
Destruction of tissue by using caustic chemicals, electric currents, heat, or by freezing
Cryosurgery
Use of extreme cold to freeze and destroy tissue
Curettage
Removal of superficial skin lesions with a curette (surgical instrument shaped like a spoon) or scraper
Debridement
Removal of foreign material and dead or damaged tissue from a wound
Electrocautery
To destroy tissue with an electric current
Incision and Drainage (I and D)
Making an incision to create an opening for the drainage of material such as pus
Onychectomy
Removal of a nail
Chemabrasion
Abrasion using chemicals. Also called a ‘chemical peel.’
Dermabrasion
Abrasion or rubbing using wire brushes or sandpaper. Performed to remove acne scars, tattoos, and scar tissue.
Laser Therapy
Removal of skin lesions and birthmarks using a laser beam that emits intense heat and power at a close range. The laser converts frequencies of light into one small, powerful beam
Liposuction
Removal of fat beneath the skin by means of suction
Rhytidectomy
Surgical removal of excess skin to eliminate wrinkles. Commonly referred to as a ‘face lift.’
Arthrogram
X-ray record of a joint; usually taken after the joint has been injected by a contrast medium
Arthrography
Process of x-raying a joint; usually after injection of a contrast medium in the joint space
Bone Scan
Nuclear medicine procedure in which the patient is given a radioactive dye and then scanning equipment is used to visualize bones. It is especially useful in identifying stress fractures, observing progress of treatment for osteomyelitis, and locating cancer metastases to the bone
Dual-Energy Absorptiometry (DXA)
Measurement of bone density using low-dose x-ray for the purpose of detecting osteporosis
Myelography
Study of the spinal column after injecting opaque contrast material; particularly useful in identifying herniated nucleus pulposus pinching a spinal nerve
Radiography
Diagnostic imaging procedure using x-rays to study the internal structure of the body; especially useful for visualizing bones and joints
Arthroscope
Instrument used to view inside a joint
Arthroscopy
Examination of the interior of a joint by entering the joint with an arthroscope. The arthroscope contains a small television camera that allows the physician to view the interior of the joint on a monitor during the procedure. Some joint conditions can be repaired during arthroscopy
Arthrocentesis
Involves the insertion of a needle into the joint cavity in order to remove or aspirate fluid. May be done to remove excess fluid from a joint or to obtain fluid for examination
Orthotic
Orthopedic appliance, such as a brace or splint, used to prevent or correct deformities
Prosthesis
Artificial device used as a substitute for a body part that is either congenitally missing or absent as a result of accident or disease. An example would be an artificial leg
Amputation
Partial or complete removal of a limb for a variety of reasons, including tumors, gangrene, intractable pain, crushing injury, or uncontrollable infection
Arthroclasia
To forcibly break loose a fused joint while the patient is under anesthetic. Fusion is usually caused by the buildup of scar tissue or adhesions
Arthrodesis
Procedure to stabilize a joint by fusing the bones together
Arthroscopic Surgery
Performing a surgical procedure while using an arthroscope to view the internal structure, such as a joint
Arthrotomy
Surgical procedure that cuts into a joint capsule
Bone Graft
Piece of bone taken from the patient used to take the place of a removed bone or a bony defect at another site
Bunionectomy
Removal of the bursa at the joint of the great toe
Bursectomy
Surgical removal of a bursa
Chondrectomy
Surgical removal of cartilage
Chondroplasty
Surgical repair of cartilage
Craniotomy
Surgical procedure that cuts into the skull
Laminectomy
Removal of the vertebral posterior arch to correct severe back problems and pain caused by compression of a spinal nerve
Osteoclasia
Surgical procedure involving the intentional breaking of a bone to correct a deformity
Osteotome
Instrument used to cut bone
Osteotomy
Surgical procedure that cuts into a bone
Percutaneous Diskectomy
A thin catheter tube is inserted into the intervertebral disk through the skin and the herniated or ruptured disk material is sucked out or a laser is used to vaporize it
Spinal Fusion
Surgical immobilization of adjacent vertebrae. This may be done for several reasons, including correction for a herniated disk
Synovectomy
Surgical removal of the synovial membrane
Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)
Surgical reconstruction of a hip by implanting a prosthetic or artificial hip joint. Also called ‘total hip replacement (THR).’
Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)
Surgical reconstruction of a knee joint by implanting a prosthetic knee joint. Also called ‘total knee replacement (TKR).’
Cast
Application of a solid material to immobilize an extremity or portion of the body as a result of a fracture, dislocation, or severe injury. It may be made of plaster of Paris or fiberglass
Fixation
Procedure to stabilize a fractured bone while it heals
External fixation: includes casts, splints, and pin
inserted through the skin
Internal fixation: includes pins, plates, rods, screws,
and wires that are applied during an open reduction
Reduction
Correcting a fracture by realigning the bone fragments
Closed Reduction: doing this manipulation without
entering the body
Open Reduction: the process of making a surgical
incision at the site of the fracture to do the reduction.
This is necessary when bony fragments need to be r
removed or ‘internal fixation’ such as plates or pins
are required
Traction
Applying a pulling force on a fractured or dislocated limb or the vertebral column in order to restore normal alignment
