| A | |
| anaesthetic discogram | an injection intended to temporarily block pain originating from a disc |
| analgesic | a medication that relieves pain without causing numbness |
| ankylosing spondylitis | an autoimmune condiion that causes progressive natural fusion of the vertebral bodies |
| annular tear | a disrupion in the outer ring (annulus fibrosis) of the disc |
| annulus fibrosis | a complex outer ring of dense fibres that encases the nucleus pulposus of the disc |
| anterior | towards the front of the body |
| AP X-Ray | An anterior-posterior X-ray producing an image as if the body is viewed from the front |
| anticonvulsants | medication to prevent seizures |
| antiemetics | medication to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting |
| aquatherapy | physical therapy or exercise therapy carried out in a pool |
| arthritis | inflammation affecting the joints |
| arthropathy | any degeneative abnormality affecting the joints |
| articular process | a part of a vertebra that extends from the lamina and supports a surface of a facet joint |
| artificial disc | totally synthetic device implanted to replace a spinal disc |
| autograft | any graft taken from the patients own body |
| B | |
| bone spurs or osteophytes | abnormal extensions of the normal contour of a bone or vertebra, associated with degenerative change |
| C | |
| cage | a hollow titanium cylinder or box that holds two vertebrae in place and carries bone graft material in its interior |
| carpal tunnel syndrome | a compression at the wist that causes a pinch of the median nerve affecting the thumb,second and third fingers of the hand |
| CAT Scan | Computer driven X-Ray system for producing three dimensional images |
| caudal | towards the lower end of the body |
| caudal epidural | injection into the epidural space placed through the sacrum |
| causalgia | a nerve based pain associated with nerve or bodily injury |
| central canal | the central portion of the vertebral coumn in which the spinal cord is found |
| central nervous system | the brain and spinal cord |
| cerebrospinal fluid | a clear fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord |
| cervical | associated with the neck |
| cervical spine | the vertebrae in the neck |
| cervical plate | a titanium device used to secure and hold a graft in the disc space after surgery |
| claudication | leg pain with walking due to either inadequate circulation in the legs or circumferential compression of the spinal canal |
| coccyx | lowest portion of the spine |
| contrast agent | an injected material that helps distinguish the appearance of two or more tissues during radiological imaging tests |
| cortical bone | the hard outer aspect of bone |
| cranial | towards th skull |
| cyst | abnormal enclosed fluid space within the body |
| D | |
| decompression | operation to relieve pressure on a structure |
| dermatome | an area of skin innervated by a single spinal nerve root |
| Dexa scan | Dual Energy X-Ray absorptiometry. Used to assess bone density for diagnosis of osteoporosis |
| discectomy | removal of all or part of a spinal disc |
| discitis | infection within a disc space |
| discogenic pain | a pain syndrome arising from an abnormal spinal disc. |
| discogram | an injection used to evaluate the health of a spinal disc, particularly to identify annular tears |
| disc bulge | an abnormal expansion of the margi of a disc still well contained by the annulus |
| dorsal | towards the back |
| dura | a firm membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord |
| E | |
| electromyography (EMG) | monitoring the electrical function of muscles using needles placed in the muscle itself or electrodes on the skin surface |
| epidural | in the space outside the dura |
| epidural abscess | an infection in the space outside the dura |
| extruded disc | a portion of the central part of the disc (nucleus pulposus) that passes through the outer annulus and is free within the spinal canal |
| F | |
| facet block | an injetion used to numb a spinal joint or facet |
| facet joints | the segmental joints at the back of the spine on both sides between the lamina |
| flexion | bending forward |
| flexion/extension X-Ray | X-rays taken with the body flexed forwards and with the body extended backwards |
| foraminotmy | surgery to open the spinal foramen increasing the space for a nerve root as it passes out of the spinal canal |
| fusion | causing two bones to grow together into one |
| G | |
| gadolinium | an injectible medium used to provide image contrast during MRI scanning |
| H | |
| herniated disc | same as’prolapsed’: a disc in which part of the central portion or nucleus pulposus has moved to an abnormal position |
| I | |
| inferior | lower in the body towrds the feet |
| inflammation | a natural reactive process in the body characterised by local irritation heat, redness and pain |
| intradural | inside the dural membranes |
| isometric | maintaining the length of a muscle while the tension changes |
| K | |
| kyphoplasty | procedure to correct the alignement of vertebrae in a patient whose spine is angled forwards |
| kyphosis | forward anglation of the spine |
| L | |
| lamina | the posterior portion of a vertebra that looks like a flat plate |
| laminectomy | removal of all or part of the back of a vertebra |
| lateral | to the side |
| lateral recess stenosis | narrowing of the lateral or outside corner of the spinal canal causing nerve root entrapment inside the spinal canal |
| lateral X ray | an X ray taken from the side |
| ligamentm flavum | a yellow elastic ligament between the lamina of the vertebrae |
| listhesis | slippage |
| lumbar | the low back between the thoracic and sacral region |
| M | |
| magnetic resonance imaging MRI | a way of visualising the interior of the body using magnetic and radiofrequency fields |
| medial | towards the midline |
| meninges | the various membranes that line the spinal cord and brain |
| meningioma | a tumour that derives from the membranes around the spinal cord and brain |
| meningitis | an infection in the spinal fluid and membranes around the spinal cord and brain |
| metastatic | a tumour that spreads to various locations within the body |
| microdiscectomy | partial or complete removal of disc material under microscopic magnification |
| musculoskeletal | anything pertaining to bones,muscles,tendons and ligaments |
| myelin | a fatty material that surrounds and insulates the nerve cells |
| myelopathy | symptoms that arise when the spinal cord is compressed |
| N | |
| nerve block | an injection that causes numbness and weakness by preventing function of a nerve |
| neurofibroma | a tumour arising within a nerve |
| neuropathic pain | pain that derives in nerves and may not be responsive to routine pain medications |
| neuropathy | malfunction in a nerve due to a medical disease of nerves or to compression of the nerve |
| NSAID | Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce swelling, inflammation and pain without the use of steroids |
| nucleus pulposus | The soft spongy material that makes up the centre of the disc. |
| O | |
| opiates | narcotic medication |
| osteomyelitis | an infection of bone |
| osteophye | a bone spur |
| P | |
| pedicle | portion of the vertebra that connects the lamina to the body and helps form the walls of the spinal canal. |
| pedicle screws | fixation screws that are placed through the pedicle of the vertebra |
| percutaneous | procedure done through a puncture in the skin |
| perineum | the skin and tissues between the legs |
| peripheral nerves | the nerves after their departure from the spinal canal. |
| peroneal nerve | a verve that starts just above the knee, passes along the lateral aspect of the lower leg and helps activate muscles that lift the foot |
| posterior | towards the back of |
| prognosis | expectation of the outcome of treatment |
| prophylactic | something administered to prevent the development of a problem, such as antibiotics given to prevent infection |
| R | |
| radiculopathy | pain, numbness or weakness in the distribution of a spinal nerve |
| referred pain | pain experienced at a location different from that of the injury causing the pain |
| S | |
| sciatic nerve | a large nerve carrying motor and sensory fibres to the posterior thigh and the leg below the knee |
| sciatica | pain in the distributio of he sciatic nerve that may involve the L4,L5,S1 or S2 dermatomes |
| scoliosis | curvature of the spine |
| spinal canal | the space between the vertebral bod and the lamina through which the spinal ura and spinal cord passes |
| spinal cord | the portion of the central nervous system extending from the base of the skull down to L1/L2 in most individuals |
| spinous process | a portion of a vertebra that is in the mdline and directed posteriorly towards the skin |
| spondylolisthesis | slippage between two vertebrae |
| stenosis | narrowing of the spinal canal or foramina |
| subluxation | slippage between to vertebrae |
| syringomyelia | the accumulation of fluid withtin the centre of the spinal cord |
| syrinx | a cavity within the spinal cord typically caused by an accumulation of fluid |
| T | |
| tissue glue | a biological adhesive or sealing material made from natural human blood roteins |
| titanium | a non magnetic element r type of metal that is compatile with MRI scanning |
| traction | the application of tension or pulling to the spine |
| V | |
| vertebra | a bony element of the spine |
