Definitions
Abduction - Abduction means moving away from the midline
Acomion - The acromion is part of the scapula, the top shelf of bone
Ankylosis - bony ankylosis is stiffening and fusion of the joint by a natural process in the body Vs Arthrodesis which is a medical term where a joint is artificially fused.
Arthodesis - Fusion of a joint preventing it from moving where it is done medically, usually surgically.
Arthroplasty - "surgical repair of joint" a surgical procedure in an arthritic or abnormal joint surface is replaced with something better. There are in principle several kinds of arthroplasty
Excision arthroplasty - This is simply where the joint is excised (cut out) the gap then fills with scar tissue.
Interposition arthroplasty - This is where the joint is excised and then the joint surfaces are lined with a biological material. eg fascia
Prosthetic joint replacement - Here the damaged joint is excised and then an artificial joint is inserted. There are many variations of prosthetic joint replacement
Total joint replacement, replacing both sides of the joint.
Hemiarthroplasty replacing just one side of the joint.
Resurfacing arthroplasty, here only a thin layer of cartilage and bone is removed and the surface replaced.
Stemmed arthroplasty, here the implant is anchored in the bone by a stem down the marrow cavity.
Partial resurfacing, where only a small part of the joint is damaged it is possible to simply replace this damaged area.
Cemented Vs Uncemented - The implant needs to be anchored to the bone, this may be with cement or without cement.
Avascular necrosis (AVN) - avascular necrosis occurs when the blood supply to bone is interrupted. The bone and overlying cartilage in a joint then dies, softens and may collapse. Synonyms include: osteonecrosis, aseptic (bone) necrosis, ischemic bone necrosis and AVN.
Cat Scan (CT) - A CT scan or computerised tomography scan, provides considerably more detail than plain x rays. It allows for imaging in all planes and 3 D reconstruction. In general the radiation dose is higher than plain x rays.
Clavicle - The clavicle is commonly called the collar bone. It forms a strut connecting the shoulder to the body. At the inner side it forms the sternoclavicular joint with manubrium and at the outer side it forms the acromioclavicular joint (ACJ).
Comminution - If a bone breaks into a number of pieces it is said to be comminution. The more the fragments the higher the degree of comminution.
Concentric contraction - Muscle contraction in which the muscles shorten while generating force. Vs eccentric Vs isometric
Coracoid - The coracoid process is part of the scapula and provides attachment for muscles and ligaments around the shoulder.
Displacement - refers to change in alignment of the fracture fragments. How far apart, or how out of alignment the fractured bone ends are.
Distal - Distal describes the point furthest from the point of attachment of an appendage to the body. Distal Vs proximal Proximal - Proximal describes where the appendage joins the body.
Eccentric contraction - muscle elongates while under tension due to an opposing force being greater than the force generated by the muscle. Vs concentric Vs isometric.
Extension - Extension is a position that is made possible by the joint angle increasing (straightening)
Flexion - flexion is a position that is made possible by the joint angle decreasing.
Glenoid - The glenoid is part of the scapula and is in essence the socket of the ball and socket around the shoulder
Humerus - The upper arm bone. At the shoulder the proximal humerus forms the ball of the ball and socket joint.
Intra articular - inside the joint.
Isometric contraction - a muscle generates force without changing length. Vs eccentric Vs concentric
Lateral - Lateral refers to the outer side or furthest away from the midline of the body.
Labrum - The labrum is the buffer of soft tissue around the glenoid, it works a bit like a suction cup and extends the surface area of the socket helpint to prevent shoulder dislocations. The long head of biceps attaches to the top of it.
Ligaments - Ligaments connect bones to bones.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - An
MRI is a very useful way of imaging the soft tissues in multiple planes. It
involves no radiation. It can be noisy and a little claustrophobic but causes no
harm and is not painful.
A tool tip is a short description of the object under the cursor and
appear if the cursor is left over the area for a short period of time.
Medial - Medial refers to inner side or closer to the midline of the body.
Mouseover - Mouseover or hover box refers to an effect
when the user moves or "hovers" the cursor over a particular area, normally a
link.
A tool tip is a short description of the object under the cursor and
appear if the cursor is left over the area for a short period of time.
Non union - Non union
Open fracture - An open fracture is one where the bone fragments have come through the skin or an overlying wound communicates with the fracture, somtimes called a compound fracture. (compound not to be confused with comminuted).
Osteophytes - Bone spurs that form along the margins of joints, in response to a disease process eg. arthritis. Osteophytes lead to stiffness and pain by impinging on the surrounding soft tissue and bones. With time osteophytes grow and may lead to joint fusion (ankylosis).
Pendullum exercises - Gently lean forward letting your arm swing away from your body under the power of gravity, slowly increase the arc of motion as you swing the arm gently round and round backwards and forwards. As pain allows increase the arc.
Posterior - Further back, towards the back.
Pronation - Pronation of the forearm is twisting or rotation of the forearm so the back of the hand faces up or forwards (showing the back of your hands) Pronation Vs Supination. Supination of the forearm is twisting or rotation of the forearm so the palm of the hand faces forward or upwards (asking for change)
Proximal - Proximal describes where the appendage joins the body. Distal Vs proximal. Distal describes the point furthest from the point of attachment of an appendage to the body.
Scapula - The scapula is part of the shoulder, commonly known as the shoulder blade.
Subluxation - It implies the presence of an incomplete or partial dislocation of a joint or organ.
Supination - Supination of the forearm is twisting or rotation of the forearm so the palm of the hand faces forward or upwards (asking for change). Pronation Vs Supination. Pronation of the forearm is twisting or rotation of the forearm so the back of the hand faces up or forwards (showing the back of your hands)
Supraspinatus - Supraspinatus is one of the four rotator cuff muscles around the shoulder, the one at the top of the shoulder.
Tendon - A tendon connects muscle to bones.
Undisplaced - Where the fracture fragments have not seperated or moved apart from each other.
Union
- defines when a broken bone has healed enough to take the load of normal
activities. It varies from bone to bone the average times to union (healing). (see
Non union and delayed union)
Valgus - defines the direction of a body part away from the midline of the body. Traditionally this refers to the direction of the most distal fragment. Valgus Vs Varus
Varus - defines the direction of a body part towards the midline of the body. Traditionally this refers to the direction of the most distal fragment. Valgus Vs Varus