Spinal Fracture - Glossary

Glossary

Fracture: A fracture is a break in the bone or cartilage. Fractures are also named by the trauma event that cause the bone breakage.

Trauma: An injury (as a wound) to living tissue caused by an extrinsic agent.

Osteoporosis: A disease in which bones become thin, weak and are easily fractured.

X-rays: High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-rays possess the properties of penetrating most substances (to varying extents), of acting on a photographic film or plate (permitting radiography), and of causing a fluorescent screen to give off light (permitting fluoroscopy). In low doses, X-rays are used for making images that help to diagnose disease, and in high doses to treat cancer. Formerly called a Roentgen ray.

MRI: A painless method using magnetic fields for taking pictures of internal organs.

CT: This is a X- ray procedure enhanced by computer, the results are three dimensioned scan through a body part showing bone and body tissue.

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild localized discomfort to agony. Pain has both physical and emotional components.

Opiates: A drug that is used to treat pain

Tumor: A pathological tissue growth, characterized by uncontrolled multiplication of cells.

Orthopedics: Orthopedics is a branch of medicine, which is related to diagnosis and treatment of diseases of Musculo-skeletal system.

Bone Graft: Bone grafting, a surgical procedure used to restore the diseased bone.

Allograft: Allograft is the transplant of organ or tissue or cells from the donor to the recipient of the same species but genetically non-identical

Autograft: Autograft is a tissue or organ graft from one part of the patient’s body to another part of the same body.