Chap 15, Clinical Procedures

Question 1

arthrocentesis

Answer 1

Surgical puncture to remove fluid from the joint space. Synovial fluid is removed for analysis.

Question 2

arthrography

Answer 2

Taking x-ray images after injection of contrast material into a joint.

Question 3

arthroplasty

Answer 3

Surgical repair or replacement of a joint (with prostheses); total hip replacement (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR) are examples. Other examples of arthroplasties are resection arthroplasty (small portion of a bone is removed to repair the joint; acromioclavicular joint is a common location), interposition arthroplasty (new tissue taken from another place is placed between damaged surface of elbow joint, and revision arthroplasty (an operation to replace a failing prosthetic joint).

Question 4

arthroscopy

Answer 4

Visual examination of a joint with an arthroscope and television camera. An orthopedist passes small surgical instruments into a joint (knee, shoulder, ankle, wrist, hip) to evaluate and/or remove and repair damaged tissue.

Question 5

bone density test (bone densitometry)

Answer 5

Low-energy x-ray absorption in bones of the spinal column, pelvis, and wrist is used to measure bone mass. An x-ray detector measures how well x-rays penetrate through bones. Areas of decreased density indicate osteopenia and osteoporosis. Also called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA or DXA).

Question 6

bone scan

Answer 6

Uptake of a radioactive substance is measured in bone. A nuclear medicine physician uses a special scanning device to detect areas of increased uptake (tumors, infection, inflammation, stress fractures).

Question 7

computed tomography (CT)

Answer 7

X-ray beam and computer provide cross-sectional and other images. CT scans identify bone abnormalities, and musculo-skeletal trauma.

Question 8

diskography

Answer 8

X-ray examination of cervical or lumbar intervertebral disk after injection of contrast into nucleus pulposus (interior of the disk).

Question 9

electromyography (EMG)

Answer 9

Recording the strength of muscle contraction as a result of electrical stimulation.

Question 10

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Answer 10

Magnetic field creates images of soft tissue. MRI shows soft tissue conditions in greater detail than that achieved with CT.

Question 11

muscle biopsy

Answer 11

Removal of muscle tissue for microscopic examination.