A-Z DICTIONARY OF
ORTHOPAEDICS
Aa
Abduction :- Movement of a limb away from the midline of the body.
Adduction :- Movement of a limb toward the midline of the body.
Ankilosing Spondylitits :- Chronic inflammation of articular cartilage,
synovium and ligaments eventually becoming ossified. Mainly affecting the
joints of the spinal column and occasionally the major limb joints.
AO screws :- Used in the fixation of extra capsular fractured necks of
femur where circulation is not impaired.
Arthrodesis :- Fusion of a joint.
Arthroplasty :- Operation for construction of a new moveable joint such
as a hip or knee.
3 types :- 1) Excision arthroplasty eg girdle stones.
2) Half joint arthroplasty (hemi) eg Austin Moores, Thompsons hip
prosthesis.
3) Total replacement arthroplasty eg. Total hip, knee replacement
Arthroscopy :- Inspection of the interior of a joint through a fine
telescope introduced through a cannula.
Austin Moores :- See half joint arthrosplasty.
Bb
Bakers Cyst :- Herniation of the synovial cavity of the knee with the
formation of a fluid filled sac.
Bradford Sling :- Used for elevation of upper limbs usually to reduce and
relieve swelling.
Braun Frame :- Used for elevation of lower limbs to reduce oedema, or
for application of traction to the lower end of the tibia.
Bursae :- Small sacs of connective tissue located wherever pressure is
exerted on moving parts.
Bursitis :- Inflammation of a bursa.
Cc
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome :- Constriction of the median nerve in the
carpal tunnel, causing discomfort in the hand. It is caused by thickening of
the tendon sheaths.
Cartilage :- Strong and flexible covering of the articular surfaces of the
bone which also serves as a cushion.
Chondroma :- A tumour composed of cartilage.
Colles fracture :- Fracture of the lower end of radius with a characteristic
displacement of the lower fragment backwards and upwards.
Compartment syndrome :- Swelling occurring within a muscular fascial
compartment which occludes the vascular system supplying the muscles,
causing ischaemia. Immediate surgery is necessary to decompress the
whole compartment.
CPN (continuous passive movement):- A machine that provides
continuous movement of a joint without any effort on the part of the
patient.
Cruciate ligaments :- Anterior and posterior ligaments of the knee.
Dd De Quervains :- Fibrous sheaths of the wrist tendons thicken causing pain
when using the hand.
Discectomy :- Removal of a complete vertebral disc (usually prolapsed or
ruptured) which provides cushioning between the vertebrae.
Dupytrens Contracture :- Thickening and shortening of the palmar fascia,
causing flexion contracture of one or more fingers.
Ee Exostosis :- Hard uneven lumps found at the end of long bones, can
become hugely visible especially around the knee.
External fixation :- Immobilisation of a fracture by rigid anchorage of the
bone fragments to an external device using metal pins and frames.
Ff
Fascia :- A sheet of loose connective tissue found directly under the skin
(superficial) or as a sheet of dense, fibrous tissue making up the sheath of
muscle, nerves and blood vessels ( deep).
Fat embolism :- Occurs mainly after sever fractures in long bones usually
within 48 hrs of injury. Caused by the occlusion of small vessels by fat globules
released from the fracture site.
Fibroma :- A firm, rounded painless nodule often found on the trunk.
Gg Ganglion :- Thin walled sac filled with viscous fluid which appears as a
subcutaneous swelling.
Girdlestones :- The head and neck of femur is excised, the side wall of the
pelvis is smoothed and a flap of muscle placed between the shaft of femur
and the pelvis to create a painless false joint.
Gout :- A disturbed purine metabolism, characterised by deposition of uric
acid salts in connective tissues such as cartilage, the walls of bursae and
ligaments.
Hh Hip replacement :- See Arthroplasty.
Hamilton Russel traction :- Traction used for any condition about the
hip for which continuous traction is required resulting in pull in line with the
femur.
Hammer toe :- A fixed flexion deformity of an interphalangeal joint,
typically only affects the second toe.
Ii
Intra Medullay nail :- Used in the internal fixation of a long bone
fracture such as a shaft of femur, tibia or humerus.
Kk
Keller operation :- Used to treat hallux valgus deformity of the big toe
(causing bunions)
Ll
Laminectomy :- Removal of the protruding lamina of a disc cushioning
the vertebra but not the nucleus.
Mm Mallet Finger :- Extensor tendon avulsed from its insertion so that the
Joint cannot be fully extended.
Malleoli :- (Medial and Lateral). Bones comprising parts of the ankle.
Meniscus :- Semilunar cartilage in the knee
Menisectomy :- Removal of one or more of the meniscus due to tears or
formation of cycts.
Mitchells osteotomy :- Type of operation for a corrective osteotomy of
the first metatarsal ( big toe).
Myeloma :- Malignant bone tumour found commonly in the trunk bones,
skull and proximal ends of the femur and humerus.
Oo
Odontoid Peg :- Process of the axis providing stability between it and the
atlas at the very top of the spinal column.
Osteoarthiritis :- A degenerative wear and tear process occurring in
joints.
Osteotomy :- Operation cutting a bone or creating a surgical fracture to
correct bony deformities or for realignment.
Pp
Patellectomy :- Removal of the patella. Often in the case of
comminuted fractures.
Pathological :- Caused by a disease from a microorganism or substance
eg metastatic cells from another primary tumour site.
Potts fracture :- Loosely related to a fracture dislocation of the ankle
involving the lower end of the fibula.
Pre patellar bursitis :- Bursa that lies in the front of the lower half of
the patella and the upper part of the patella tendon is prone to
inflammation caused by infection or repeated friction.
Pubic Rami :- Bones making up the pelvic ring (superior and inferior)/
Putti Platt :- Operation to stabilize the shoulder by shortening the
subscapularis muscle to limit rotation.
Rr
Rheumatoid Arthiritis :- Chronic inflammation of the joints, usually
affecting several joints at the same time. Causes erosion of cartilage and in
severe cases destruction of bone.
Ss
Sam sling :- Temporary pelvis binder used to stabilize open book type
pelvic fractures.
Sarcoma :- Describes various tumours of the bone (usually malignant).
Scaphoid :- One bone of the wrist at the base of the thumb.
Sinus :- A suppurating chanel from an abcess or wound to the surface or into
a body cavity.
Skin traction :- Aids realignment of bones with the pull of the weight
transmitted indirectly to the affected bone.
Smiths fracture :- The reverse of a colles fracture. Fracture of the lower
end of radius with anterior displacement.
Sprain :- An acute ligamentous injury such as a tear.
Steinmans pin :-Usually used in conjunction with traction. Pin goes
through a bone to allow traction to be applied (skeletal traction).
Strain :- Chronic strain caused by long continued stress with microscopic
changes in the ligament.
Synovivits :- Inflammation of the synovial membrane of joints initiated by
minor injury or even a viral infection.
Tt
Tendon :- Bands of dense fibrous tissue attaches muscle to bone.
Tendinitis :- Inflammation of the fibrous wall of a tendon sheath. Not
usually due to infection.
Tenosynovitis :- Inflammation of the synovial lining of a tendon sheath
caused by irritation or infection.
Thomas splint :- Supports a lower limb whilst maintaining continuous
traction by means of a weight to preserve correct length.
Traction :- Steady pull on a part of the body used to reduce and
immobilise fractures, to overcome muscle spasm and correct deformities.
Trigger finger :- Thickening and constriction of the fibrous digital sheath,
causing difficulty to straighten the finger from the flexed position.
Ww
Wilsons osteototomy :- A different version of mitchells osteotomy for
the treatment of bunions.
Zz
Zaddicks procedure :- Excision of the big toe nail and bed to treat
ingrowing toe nail.