Orthopedic Vocabulary

Question 1

bone graft

Answer 1

Surgical procedure that uses piece of bone to replace lost bone or to fuse two bones together

Question 2

bone scan

Answer 2

Nuclear medicine scan using radioactive dye to visualize bones; useful for finding stress fractures and bone cancer

Question 3

carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)

Answer 3

Repetitive motion disorder caused by pressure on tendons and nerves as they pass through carpal tunnel of wrist

Question 4

closed fracture

Answer 4

Broken bone with no open skin wound; also called simple fracture

Question 5

compound fracture

Answer 5

Broken bone with open skin wound; also called open fracture

Question 6

contracture

Answer 6

Abnormal shortening of muscle fibers, tendons, or connective tissue making it difficult to stretch muscle

Question 7

dislocation

Answer 7

Occurs when bones in joint are displaced from normal alignment and ends of bones are no longer in contact with each other

Question 8

fibromyalgia

Answer 8

Chronic condition with widespread aching and pain in the muscles and fibrous soft tissue

Question 9

fixation

Answer 9

Procedure to stabilize fractured bone while it heals;

Question 10

fracture

Answer 10

Broken bone

Question 11

greenstick fracture

Answer 11

Fracture with incomplete break; one side of the bone breaks and other side only bends; commonly seen in children because their bones are still pliable

Question 12

herniated nucleus pulposus

Answer 12

Protrusion of intervertebral disk between two vertebrae, which puts pressure on spinal nerves;

Question 13

kyphosis

Answer 13

Abnormal increase in normal outward curvature of thoracic spine; also called hunchback or humpback

Question 14

lordosis

Answer 14

Abnormal increase in normal forward curvature of lumbar spine; also called swayback

Question 15

muscle atrophy

Answer 15

Loss of muscle bulk due to muscle disease, nervous system disease, or lack of use;

Question 16

muscular dystrophy

Answer 16

One of a group of inherited diseases involving progressive muscle degeneration, weakness, and atrophy

Question 17

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Answer 17

Large group of drugs that provide mild pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits for conditions such as arthritis

Question 18

orthosis

Answer 18

Externally applied brace or splint used to prevent or correct deformities;

Question 19

osteoarthritis

Answer 19

Arthritis caused by loss of cartilage cushion covering bones in joint

Question 20

osteogenic sarcoma

Answer 20

Most common type of bone cancer; usually begins in osteocytes found at ends of bones;

Question 21

prosthesis

Answer 21

Any artificial device used as substitute for body part that is either missing from birth or lost as the result of an accident or disease;

Question 22

radiography

Answer 22

Diagnostic imaging procedure using x-rays to see internal structure of body;

Question 23

scoliosis

Answer 23

Abnormal lateral curvature of spine

Question 24

spasm

Answer 24

Sudden, involuntary, strong muscle contraction

Question 25

spina bifida

Answer 25

Birth defect that occurs when vertebra fails to fully form around spinal cord;

Question 26

spiral fracture

Answer 26

Bone break in which fracture line spirals around shaft of the bone

Question 27

sprain

Answer 27

Ligament injury from over-stretching, but without joint dislocation or bone fracture

Question 28

strain

Answer 28

Damage to the muscle or tendons from overuse or over-stretching

Question 29

stress facture

Answer 29

A slight bone break caused by repetitive low-impact forces, such as running, rather than a single forceful impact

Question 30

total hip arthroplasty

Answer 30

Surgical reconstruction of hip with artificial hip joint

Question 31

total knee arthroplasty

Answer 31

Surgical reconstruction of knee joint with artificial knee joint

Question 32

repetitive motion disorder

Answer 32

Group of chronic disorders with tendon, muscle, joint, and nerve damage caused by prolonged periods of pressure, vibration, or repetitive movements.

Question 33

rheumatoid arthritis

Answer 33

Arthritis with swelling, stiffness, pain, and degeneration of cartilage in joints caused by chronic soft tissue inflammation