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M
MACCARTHY PROCEDURE - For sacral tumor; a method of excision
of the sacrum.
MAGERL - Transarticular facet screw fusion for posterior C-1
on C-2 with the use of bilateral screws directed from inferior
posterior lateral mass to anterior superior C-1.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY (MRA) - A non-invasive study
which is conducted in a Magnetic Resonance Imager (MRI). The
magnetic images are assembled by a computer to provide an
image of the arteries in the head and neck. No contrast material
is needed, but some patients may experience claustrophobia
in the imager.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) - Diagnostic test that produces
three-dimensional images of body structures using powerful
magnets and computer technology rather than x-rays.
MALIGNANT - resistant to treatment; occurring in severe form,
and frequently fatal; tending to become worse and leading
to an ingravescent course.
MARGINAL OSTEOPHYTES - Excess bone formation at the margin
of the vertebral body; spondylosis.
MARIE-STRÜMPELL d - Inflammation of the spine, occurring
as a rheumatoid-tyoe disease in children.
MASSAGE - A method of manipulation of the body by rubbing,
pinching, kneading, tapping, etc.
MCAFFEE - Anterior retropharyngeal approach to upper cervical
spine; often used for fusion, allowing excision of tumor.
MEDIAN NERVE - The nerve formed from the brachial plexus that
supplies muscles in the anterior forearm and thumb, as well
as, sensation of the hand. It may be compressed or trapped
at the wrist in carpal tunnel syndrome.
MEDIAL - Situated closer to the midline of the body.
MEDICAL DEVICE REPORT (MDR) - The required reporting of' medical
device complaints involving a patient death, serious injury,
or device malfunction.
MENINGES - The three membranes covering the spinal cord and
brain termed dura mater, arachnoid mater and pia mater.
MENINGISMUS - Apparent irritation of brain or spinal cord
in which symptoms simulate meningitis but in which no actual
inflammation of the membranes is present; meningism.
MENINGITIS - An infection or inflammation of the membranes
covering the brain and spinal cord. Caused by infectious agents
such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses.
MENINGOCELE - A protrusion of the coverings of the spinal
cord or brain through a defect in the skull or vertebral column.
May be congenital or acquired.
MENINGOENCEPHALITIS - An inflammation or infection of the
brain and spinal cord and their membranes.
MENINGOENCEPHALOCELE - A protrusion of both the meninges and
brain tissue through a skull defect
MENINGOMYELITIS - Inflammation of spinal cord, its enveloping
arachnoid and pia mater, and sometimes the dura mater.
MEYER - For C-1 to C-2 instability, posterior fusion using
vertical strut grafts and wires.
MODIFIED FRANKEL CLASSIFICATION - Scale for spinal cord damage
due to any cause.
MORBIDITY the frequency of the appearance of complications
following a surgical procedure or the other treatment.
MRA - Magnetic Resonance Angiography. A non-invasive study
which is conducted in a Magnetic Resonance Imager (MRI). The
magnetic images are assembled by a computer to provide an
image of the arteries in the head and neck. No contrast material
is needed, but some patients may experience claustrophobia
in the imager.
MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Scanning technique for
views of the brain or spinal cord. No radiation is involved,
but rather pulsed magnetic waves are used to delineate the
structures within the brain.
MESENCEPHALIC - Relating to that part of the brain stem known
as the mesencephalon.
MINIMAL ACCESS DISCECTOMY - an operation performed on the
upper spine to relieve pressure on one or more nerve roots.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE LUMBAR LAMINECTOMY/DISCECTOMY - an operation
performed on the lower spine to relieve pressure on one or
more nerve roots. The term is derived from the words lumbar
(low back), and discectomy (remove a portion of the intervertebral
disc).
MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY - Surgery requiring small incision(s),
usually performed with endoscopic visualization.
MUSCULATURE - The arrangement of the muscles in a part or
in the body as a whole.
MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES - injuries affecting the muscles.
MYALGIA - Muscular pain.
MYELALGIA - Pain in the spinal cord.
MYELANALOSIS - Wasting of spinal marrow, tabes dorsalis.
MYELAPOPLEXY - Loss of nerve strength caused by some disorder
of the spinal cord.
MYELASTHENIA - Loss of nerve strength caused by some disorder
of the spinal cord.
MYELATELIA - Imperfect development of the spinal cord.
MYELATROPHY - Atrophy (wasting away) of spinal cord because
of lack of nutrition, causing it to diminish in size.
MYELAUXE - Abnormal increase in size of spinal cord.
MYELETEROSIS - Abnormal alteration of the spinal cord.
MYELIN - The fat-like substance which surrounds the axon nerve
fibers and forms an insulating material.
MYELOCELE - Protrusion of the spinal cord in spina bifida.
Herniation and protrusion of substance of spinal cord through
defect in the bony spinal canal.
MYELOCYSTOCELE - Cystic protrusion of substance of the spinal
cord through a defect in the bony spinal canal.
MYELOCYSTOMENINGOCELE - Cystic protrusion of substance of
the spinal cord, with meninges, through a defect in the spinal
canal.
MYELODYIASTASIS - Separation of the spinal cord.
MYELODYSPLASIA - Defective development of any part of spinal
cord.
MYELOENCEPHALITIS - Inflammation of the spinal cord and brain;
myelencephalitis.
MYELOGRAM - An x-ray of the spinal canal following injection
of a contrast material into the surrounding cerebrospinal
fluid spaces.
MYELOGRAPHY - Radiography of the spinal cord and nerve roots
after the injection of a contrast medium into the spinal subarachnoid
space.
MYELOMALACIA - Softening of the spinal cord.
MYELOMENINGITIS - Inflammation of the spinal cord and meninges
(spinal membranes).
MYELOMENINGOCELE - A protrusion of the spinal cord and its
coverings through a defect in the vertebral column. Herniation
of cord and meninges through a defect in the vertebral column.
MYELONEURITIS - Inflammation of the spinal cord and peripheral
nerves.
MYELOPARALYSIS - Spinal paralysis.
MYELOPATHY - Any functional or pathologic disturbance in the
spinal cord.
MYELOPHTHISIS - Wasting of the spinal cord; reduction of cell-forming
function of bone marrow.
MYELOPLEGIA - Spinal paralysis.
MYELORADICULITIS - Inflammation of spinal cord and nerve roots.
MYELORADICULOPATHY - Disease of spinal cord and spinal nerve
roots.
MYELORRHAGIA - Spinal hemorrhage.
MYELOSCELEROSIS - Hardening of the spinal cord.
MYELOSYPHILIS - Syphilis of the spinal cord.
MYELOTOMY - A procedure for severing tracts in the spinal
cord.
MYOPATHY - Any disease of muscle.
MYOSITIS - Inflammation of the muscle.
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N
NAFFZIGER SYNDROME - Intervertebral disc disease, cervical
rib, or some other disorder causes the scalene muscles to
go into spasm, resulting in pressure on the major nerve plexus
of the arm causing pain in the neck, shoulder, arm, and hand;
scalenus anticus syndrome.
NEOPLASM - Any new or abnormal growth, specifically a new
growth of tissue in which the growth is uncontrolled.
NERVE - A whitish cordlike structure composed of one or more
bundles of myelinated or unlyelinated fibers, or more often
mixtures of both coursing outside of the central nervous system,
together with connective tissue within the fascicle and around
the neurolemma of individual fibers.
NERVE ROOT - The portion of a spinal nerve in close proximity
to its origin from the spinal cord.
NEURALGIA - A paroxysmal pain extending along the course of
one or more nerves.
NEUROFIBROMA - Fibrous tumor of a nerve, which may affect
a nerve root and thus give the appearance of herniated disc
disease.
NEUROSURGERY - The surgical specialty involved in the treatment
of disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.
NEURAL ARCH - The bony arch of the posterior aspect of a vertebra
that surrounds the spinal cord, also referred to as the vertebral
arch.
NEURALGIA - Pain of a severe, throbbing, or stabbing character
in the course or distribution of a nerve.
NEURECTOMY - Excision of part of a nerve.
NEURITIS - Inflammation of a nerve; may also be used to denote
non-inflammatory nerve lesions of the peripheral nervous system.
NEUROBLASTOMA - Tumor of sympathetic nervous system origin,
found mostly in infants and children.
NEUROFIBROMA - A tumor of the peripheral nerves due to an
abnormal collection of fibrous and insulating cells.
NEUROFIBROMATOSIS - A familial condition characterized b by
developmental changes in the nervous system, muscles and skin,
marked by numerous tumors affecting these organ system.
NEUROHYPOPHYSIS - The posterior lobe of the pituitary gland.
NEUROLYSIS - Removal of scar or reactive tissue from a nerve
or nerve root.
NEUROMA - A tumor or new growth largely made up of nerve fibers
and connective tissue.
NEUROMUSCULAR SCOLIOSIS - Scoliosis caused by a muscle or
central nervous system disorder.
NEUROPATHY - Any functional or pathologic disturbance in the
peripheral nervous system.
NEUROSTIMULATOR - A device for electrical excitation of the
central or peripheral nervous system.
NEWMAN - C-1 to C-2 posterior fusion without fixation.
NON-UNION - Failure of the fragments of a fractured bone to
heal or to obtain bony fusion following an arthrodesis.
NUCHAL LIGAMENT - Large posterior midline ligament in the
neck from the base of the skull to the seventh cervical vertebra.
NUCLEUS PULPOSUS - The semi-gelatinous tissue in the center
of an intervertebral disc. It is surrounded and contained
by the annulus fibrosus which prevents this material from
protruding outside the disc space.
NURICK SCALE - Classification scale for spinal cord compression
due to spondylosis.
NYSTAGMUS - Involuntary rapid movement of the eyes in the
horizontal, vertical or rotary planes of the eyeball.
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O
OCCIPITAL NERVE - Nerve from the back of the neck that supplies
motor function and sensation to the forehead; two parts- greater
and lesser.
OCCIPUT - The back part of the head. The base of the skull.
OLIGODENDROGLIA - Non-nerve cells, (see glia) forming part
of the supporting structure of the central nervous system.
OLIGODENDROGLIOMA - A growth of new cells derived from the
oligodendroglia.
OLISTHY - Slipping of bone(s) from normal anatomic site; for
example, a slipped disc.
OPHTHALMOPLEGIA - Paralysis of one or more of the eye muscles.
ORTHOPAEDICS (also ORTHOPEDICS) - The medical specialty involved
in the preservation and restoration of function of the musculoskeletal
system that includes treatment of spinal disorders and peripheral
nerve lesions.
ORTHOPAEDIC IMPLANTS - Medical devices used to replace or
provide fixation of bone or to replace articulating surfaces
of a joint.
ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON - A physician who treats the musculoskeletal
system, extremities, and spine by operation or manipulation.
OSTEOINDUCTIVE - A material with the ability to induce bone
to grow
OSSIFICATION - The process of forming bone in the body.
OSTEOARTHRITIS - Arthritis characterized by erosion of articular
cartilage, either primary or secondary to trauma or other
conditions, which becomes soft, frayed, and thinned with eburnation
of subchondral bone and outgrowths of marginal osteophytes.
OSTEOMA - A benign tumor of bone.
OSTEOMYELITIS - Inflammation of bone due to infection, which
may be localized or generalized.
OSTEOPHYTE - A bony outgrowth or protuberance.
OSTEOPOROSIS - A disorder in which bone is abnormally brittle,
less dense, and is the result of a number of different diseases
and abnormalities.
OTHER NERVES (twelfth cranial) - Transcervical, supraclavicular,
posterior rami, facial, greater auricular, and hypoglossal.
OVERTON - A dowel graft that is applied across facet joints.
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P
PARAPLEGIA - Paralysis of the lower part of the body including
the legs.
PEDICLE -The part of each side of the neural arch of a vertebra.
It connects the lamina with the vertebral body. The first
portion of the posterior spine arising from the vertebral
body.
PHYSICAL - Relating to the body, as distinguished from the
mind.
PHYSICAL THERAPY - The treatment consisting of exercising
specific parts of the body such as the legs, arms, hands or
neck, in an effort to strengthen, regain range of motion,
relearn movement and/or rehabilitate the musculoskeletal system
to improve function.
PHYSIOLOGY -The science of the functioning of living organisms,
and of their component systems or parts.
PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME - A clinical diagnosis based on complaints
of pain and abnormal sensations in the buttocks region with
extension into the hips and posterior thigh as would be seen
in sciatica.
PLEXITIS - Inflammation of the plexus.
PLEXUS - A network or interjoining of nerves and blood vessels
or of lymphatic vessels.
POSTERIOR - The back of the body or situated nearer the back
of the body.
POSTERIOR APPROACH - Used for laminectomies and spinal fusions
at any level; Hibbs, Wagoner.
POSTERIOR CERVICAL SPINAL FUSION - Spinal fusion done from
the back, using the lamina, facets, and spinous processes
of the neck.
POSTERIOR NECK MUSCLES - Splenius, spinalis, and semispinalis.
POSTERIOR FOSSA - The internal base of the skull.
POSTERIOR LUMBAR SPINAL FUSION - Spinal fusion done from the
back using the lamina, the facets, and spinous processes of
the lower back.
POSTERIOR SPINAL FUSION - A fusion of the cervical, thoracic,
or lumbar regions primarily fusing the lamina and sometimes
the facet joints, using iliac or other bone graft.
POSTERIOR SPINAL MUSCLE SEGMENTS - Upper and lower posterior
serratus m., spinalis m., semispinalis m., and rotators.
POSTEROLATERAL (P/L) - Behind and to one side, specifically
to the outer side.
POSTEROLATERAL INTERBODY FUSION (PLIF) - Lumbar spine fusion
that involves an interbody fusion accomplished through the
posterior approach.
POSTEROLATERAL FUSION - A fusion of both the lamina and transverse
process, using the iliac bone for graft, usually in the lower
lumbar and first sacral segments.
PSEUDOTUMOR CEREBRI - Raised intracranial pressure, usually
causing only headache and papilledema. No clear underlying
structural abnormality.
PSEUDOARTHROSIS (also PSEUDARTHROSIS) - A form of non-union
in which there is the formation of a false joint with some
cartilage covering the ends of the bones and a cavity containing
fluid that resembles a normal joint.
PSEUDOCLAUDUCATION - Increased pain and decreased strength
in lower limbs associated with physical activity. Complaints
are similar to those caused by insufficient blood supply to
the limb but are caused by diminished blood supply to the
nerves in a narrowed spinal canal.
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Q
QUADRIPLEGIA - Paralysis of all four limbs.
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R
RACHIALGIA - Pain in the vertebral column.
RACHICENTESIS - Lumbar puncture for examination of the spinal
fluid; rachiocentesis.
RACHIOCAMPSIS - Curvature of the spine.
RACHIOCHYSIS - Effusion of fluid within the vertebral canal.
RACHIOKYPHOSIS - Humpbacked curvature of spine; kyphosis.
RACHIOMYELITIS - Inflammation of the spinal cord.
RACHIOPARALYSIS - Paralysis of the spinal muscles.
RACHIOPATHY - Any disease of the spine.
RACHIOPLEGIA - Spinal paralysis.
RACHIOSCOLIOSIS - Lateral curvature of the spine.
RACHIOTOMY - Incision into a vertebral canal for exploration.
RACHISAGRA - Pain or gout in the spine.
RACHISCHISIS - Abnormal congenital opening of the vertebral
column.
RACHITOMY - Surgical or anatomic opening of the vertebral
canal.
RADICULECTOMY - Excision of a rootlet or resection of spinal
nerve roots.
RADICULOPATHY - Disease of the nerve roots in or near the
spinal canal as a result of direct pressure from a
REFERRED PAIN - Sclerotomic in distribution and felt distant
from its origin (e.g., bursitis in the shoulder produces pain
in the lateral arm, and sciatic-like leg pain can be referred
from the lower-back area).
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS - generalized inflammatory joint disease.
RHIZOTOMY - Division of the roots of the spinal nerves.
RISSER - For scoliosis deformity; particular attention to
fusion of facet joints and use of cast stabilization.
ROOT - The primary or beginning point of any part, as of a
nerve at its origin from the brainstem or spinal cord.
ROOT SLEEVE FIBROSIS - Scar tissue surrounding a nerve in
the spinal canal or neural foramen; epineural fibrosis. If
it is within the nerve, it is called intraneural fibrosis.
ROY-CAMILLE - For stabilization between the skull and C-2;
posterior bone graft with wire and parallel vertical screw
plate fixation from occiput to C-3. Posterior pedicle screw
and plate device for spinal stabilization.
RUDIMENTARY RIBS - Nubbins of ribs seen below the level where
the last rib normally occurs.
RUPTURED DISC - See Herniated Disc.
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