Glossary
Arthrosis Degenerative disease of the joint.
Back Disc The cushion between the vertebrae in the spine.
Bone Bank:a laboratory where allograft bone is stored for use in surgery.
Bone Graft:there are two kinds of bone grafts. Autograft bone
is bone that is harvested from one place in a person and then transplanted
to another location in the same person.
Allograft bone is bone
donated from one person and harvested, processed, stored and then
transplanted to another person.
Collapsed Disc Closure of the space between the vertebrae where the disc has degenerated or herniated.
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) The natural degeneration of the intervertebral disc caused by repetitive stress on the spinal tissues leading to a loss of flexibility, elasticity and shock-absorbing properties.
Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Slippage of one or more vertebrae in relation to others.
Disc: a fluid-filled, jelly-like cushion between the vertebrae of the spine. Each disc is identified by the vertebrae that surround it. For example, the L4-5 disc is the disc between the L4 and L5 vertebrae.
Disc ProtrusionA disc between the vertebrae that has pushed outside its normal space into the spinal canal
Discectomy: a surgical procedure that involves removing damaged disc
material from between the vertebrae.
Facet Joint Osteoarthritis Degenerative arthritis involving the breakdown of cartilage between the facet joints (part of the vertebrae).
Fusion: the joining or healing of bones.
Herniated DiscThe squeezing out of the soft center of the intervertebral disc, usually into the spine canal, due to deterioration of the outer layer of the disc (the annulus fibrosis).
Incision: a cut made through the skin and into the body during surgery.
Laminectomy: a surgical procedure that relieves pressure on the spinal nerves by trimming or removing the lamina (roof) of the vertebra to create more space.
Minimally Invasive Solutions™ (MIS) MIS describes the operation techniques, which use small skin incisions thereby preserving the underlying tissues. The patients lose less blood during the operation, and after the operation they generally have less pain and are mobile faster.
Osteoarthritis Degenerative arthritis involving the breakdown of cartilage between the joints.
Osteoporosis Disease characterized by low bone mass and the deterioration of the structural integrity of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to bone fractures.
Pedicle: a stem-like area on the back of the vertebra that connects the main part of the vertebra to the structures (e.g. the lamina) that project from it. Each vertebra has two pedicles.
Pedicle screw system: a system of screws and rods that holds the vertebrae stable until fusion occurs.
Sciatica Pain along the sciatic nerve (lower back).
Scoliosis: a condition in which there is a sideways curve to the spine.
Spinal fusion surgery: a procedure to restore and maintain the space between the vertebrae by stabilising the bones until they can grow together.
Spine: the bony column from the base of the skull to the tailbone.
The structure is made up of vertebrae and contains five regions: the
cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum and coccyx.
Stenosis: a
general term used to describe a condition in which the spinal canal narrows
and presses on the nerve.
Vertebra (Vertebrae): one of 33 bones that form the spine. Each vertebra is identified by number within its region of the spine. For example, L1 is the first vertebra in the lumbar region.
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