Sierra Flashcards
Osteoconductive
Provides a natural scaffold for new bone formation (doesn’t cause osteogenesis though, only aids). Usually used in reference to bone graft.
Osteogenesis
The formation of bone
Osteoinductive
Osteoinduction is the process by which osteogenesis is induced. Osteoinduction implies the recruitment of immature cells and the stimulation of these cells to develop into preosteoblasts.
Allograft bone
A tissue graft used during surgery that is taken from someone other than the patient being operated on, usually from a cadaver or a bone bank.
Problems: by itself it is only osteoconductive, not osteoinductive. Needs something like stem cells or bmp to cause bone cell growth.
Autograft
Bone graft which is created from taking bone from one location in an individual (ileum of pelvis usually) and placed in another in the same individual.
Problems: extra surgery time & usually means multiple incisions = more chance for complications, infections and longer recovery.
Xenograft
Bone graft taken from another species
Problems: only osteoconductive, not osteoinductive on its own
DBM
A bone grafting option often used during spine fusion surgery. Minerals are taken out of the bone graft in attempt to make it more osteoinductive
BMP
A growth factor that triggers the formation of new bone or cartilage. Sometimes BMP is used in lieu of bone graft in spinal fusion surgeries
Ankylosis
Immobility or consolidation of a joint due to bone fussion, disease, injury or surgical procedure.
Arthrodesis (artificial ankylosis)
The surgical fixation of a joint by a procedure designed to accomplish fusion of the joint surfaces by promoting the proliferation of bone cells; also called artificial ankylosis
Annulus fibrosis
Cartilaginous outer wall of an intervertebral disc; contains the inner gel-like fluid of the disc’s nucleus pulposis
Antero-lateral
Situated and occurring in front of and to the side
Acute
Pain that is sudden; categorized as lasting three months or less.
Antero-medial
Situated and occurring in front of and to the middle
Antero-posterior (AP)
Directed from the front to back
Anterior lumbar internist fusion (ALIF)
A spine surgery that fuses two or more lumbar vertebrae together into a solid segment of bone. The fusion takes place between anterior vertebral bodies, meaning the posterior arch and spinous process are not fused
Apical vertebrae
The most rotated vertebrae in a curve; the most deviated vertebrae from the patients access.
Arthro-
Prefix referring to “joint”
Arthritis
Commonly used term that describes a disorder that causes inflammation, pain and restricted movement of the joints
Arthroplasty
The field of medicine dealing with the surgical reconstruction and total replacement of degenerated joints
Arthroscope
A type of endoscope used to gain access and visualization to the interior of a joint to correct abnormalities
Arthroscopy
A minimally invasive procedure that utilizes an arthroscope to visualize the inside of a joint.
Articular
Of or relating to a joint or joints
Bone
Hard rigid form of connective tissue composed mainly of calcium salts, hydroxyapatite crystals and collagen
Bone growth stimulator
An electrical device used to induce the growth of new bone after a spinal fusion surgery. It can be implanted or worn externally
Bone marrow
Contained within the internal cavities of bone. A major function of marrow is to produce red blood cells.
bone plate
A relatively thin metal device which is affixed to bone via screws. They are used to immobilize bones or bone fragments such that healing can occur.
Bulging disc
Occurs when an intervertebral disc weakens and loses its natural shape, causing it to protrude outside of its normal boundaries
C-collar (cervical collar)
A rigid brace which supports the head and neck. Used for stabilization of c1-c7
Cervical spine
Composed of seven vertebrae labelled C1-C7
Cancellous Bone
Also called spongy bone or trabecular bone. The mesh work of spongy tissue (trabeculae) of mature adult bone typically found at the core of vertebral bones and at the ends of long bones (e.g. Femur)
Cortical bone
Also called compact or non-cancellous bone. It is bone tissue which has depleted itself of its minerals. Usually found in the middle of long bones or surrounding the cancellous bone on a vertebrae.
Cartillage
The hard thin layer of white glossy tissue that covers the end of a bone joint to allow motion to take place with minimum friction
Cauda Equina
Bundle of nerve roots in the lumbar spine that branch off the end of the spinal cord and extend through the lower extremities, bowls and bladder.
The spinal cord ends around L2 which is where this branches off
Cauda Equina syndrome
An emergency condition caused by the compression of the Cauda Equina in the spinal canal. Symptoms include pain, paralysis and incontinence(loss of bowl/bladder control).
Centrum
Also known as vertebral body. It is the body of a vertebrae
Cerebrospinal fluid (csf)
Protective fluid that surround the brain and spinal cord; helps keep nerve tissue healthy by removing wastes.
Chemonucleolysis
A minimally invasive treatment for patients suffering from degenerative disc conditions in the back or neck. A medical professional injects chymopapain into the affected disc to reduce swelling, alleviate nerve compression and reduce symptoms.
Claudication
Medical term that describes difficulty walking due to leg or back pain. Claudication can often be traced to nerve compression in the spine
Cobb angle measurement
Calculated by selecting the upper and lower vertebrae in a curve. Erecting perpendiculars to their transverse axis. At the point of intersection of these perpendiculars, the angle they make is measured to indicate the curve’s angle
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0501/afp20020501p1817-f2.gif
Coccyx
“Tailbone”
A vestigial set of bones that is comprised of 3 to 5 individual vertebrae that are fused together.
Collagen
A fibrous protein which is a major constituent of connective tissue such as skin, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and bone.
Collapsed disc
Occurs as a result of an injury or regular wear and tear. This condition is relatively common as individuals grow older and is actually asymptomatic unless the disc or disc material comes into contact with a nerve root or the spinal cord itself
Comminuted fracture
A fracture in which a bone is broken into more than two pieces. Often internal or external fixation devices are used to maintain proper alignment of the fragments
Compensatory curve
A curve which can be structural, above or below a major curve that tends to maintain normal body alignment.
Computerized tomography (CT)
A CT scan uses X-ray technology to study the inner working of the body. Used to generate an image of a specific part of the body from a series of two-dimension images taken around us.
Transverse
Refers to a cut that divides the body into superior and inferior parts
Arthropathy
A collective term for any disease of the joints
Congenital
Present at and existing from the time of birth
Decompression
Treatment designed to alleviate pressure on a nerve, nerve root, or the spinal cord itself.
Degenerative disc disease
Refers to the gradual deterioration of one or more of the intervertebral discs that cushion and support the bones of the spine
Dermatones
Areas of the skin primarily innervated by a single spinal nerve. Pain or numbness in a particular dermatome can help show where in the spine a problem exists.
Disc joint disease
Degenerative changes in the facet joints characterized by cartilage thinning and osteophyte formation
Discectomy
Surgical removal of a herniated intervertebral disc
General spine anatomy
http://www.siumed.edu/surgery/neurosurgery/images/spinal_curves_regions.jpg