Glossary of Terms

  1. Adolescent scoliosis
    lateral spinal curvature that appears before the onset of puberty and before skeletal maturity.
  2. Adult scoliosis
    scoliosis of any cause which is present after skeletal maturity.
  3. Autograft
    any tissue transferred from one site to another in the same individual (iliac bone from the pelvis is commonly used to supplement the fusion mass).
  4. Autologous blood
    blood collected from a person for later transfusion to the same person. This technique is often used prior to elective surgery if blood loss is expected to occur. This may avoid the use of bank blood from unknown donors and significantly reduces the risk of acquiring transmitted diseases.
  5. Autotransfusion
    the practice and technique of transfusing previously drawn autologous blood to the same patient.
  6. Cervical spine
    that portion of the vertebral column contained in the neck, consisting of seven cervical vertebrae between the skull and the rib cage.
  7. Compensatory curve
    in spinal deformity, a secondary curve located above or below the structural curvature, which develops in order to maintain normal body alignment.
  8. Congenital scoliosis
    scoliosis due to bony abnormalities of the spine present at birth. These anomalies are classified as failure of vertebral formation and/or failure of segmentation.
  9. Decompensation
    in scoliosis, this refers to loss of spinal balance when the thoracic cage is not centered over the pelvis.
  10. Discectomy
    removal of all or part of an intervertebral disc (the soft tissue that acts as a shock absorber between the vertebral bodies).
  11. Double curve
    two lateral curvatures (scoliosis) in the same spine. Double major curve describes a scoliosis in which there are two structural curves which are usually of equal size.
  12. Double thoracic curve
    describes a scoliosis with a structural upper thoracic curve, as well as a larger, more deforming lower thoracic curve, and a relatively nonstructural lumbar curve.
  13. Hemivertebra
    a congenital anomaly of the spine caused by incomplete development of one side of a vertebra resulting in a wedge shape.
  14. Hysterical scoliosis
    a non-structural deformity of the spine that develops as a manifestation of a psychological disorder.
  15. Idiopathic scoliosis
    a structural spinal curvature for which cause has not been established.
  16. Inclinometer
    an instrument used to measure the angle of thoracic prominence, referred to as angle of trunk rotation (ATR) (AKA Scoliometer).
  17. Infantile scoliosis
    a curvature of the spine that develops before three years of age.
  18. Juvenile scoliosis
    scoliosis developing between the ages of three and ten years.
  19. Kyphoscoliosis
    a structural scoliosis associated with increased roundback.
  20. Kyphosis
    a posterior convex angulation of the spine as evaluated on a side view of the spine. Contrast to lordosis.
  21. Lordoscoliosis
    a lateral curvature of the spine associated with increased swayback.
  22. Lordosis
    an anterior angulation of the spine in the sagittal plane. Contrast to kyphosis.
  23. Lumbar curve
    a spinal curvature whose apex is between the first and fourth lumbar vertebrae (also known as lumbar scoliosis).
  24. Lumbosacral
    pertaining to the lumbar and sacral regions of the back.
  25. Lumbosacral curve
    a lateral curvature with its apex at the fifth lumbar vertebra or below (also known as lumbosacral scoliosis).
  26. Neuromuscular scoliosis
    a form of scoliosis caused by a neurologic disorder of the central nervous system or muscle.
  27. Nonstructural curve
    description of a spinal curvature or scoliosis that does not have fixed residual deformity.
  28. Pedicle
    bony process projecting backward from the body of a vertebra, which connects with the lamina on either side.
  29. Posterior fusion
    a technique of stabilizing two or more vertebra by bone grafting with entry from back.
  30. Primary curve
    the first or earliest curve to appear.
  31. Risser sign
    used to indicate spinal maturity, this refers to the appearance of a crescentic line of bone formation which appears across the top of each side of the pelvis.
  32. Sacrum
    curved triangular bone at the base of the spine, consisting of five fused vertebrae known as sacral vertebrae. The sacrum articulates with the last lumbar vertebra and laterally with the pelvic bones.
  33. Scoliometer
    a proprietary name for an inclinometer used in measuring trunk rotation.
  34. Scoliosis
    lateral deviation of the normal vertical line of the spine which, when measured by X-ray, is greater than ten degrees. Scoliosis consists of a lateral curvature of the spine with rotation of the vertebrae within the curve.
  35. Spinal instrumentation
    metal implants fixed to the spine to improve spinal deformity while the fusion matures. This includes a wide variety of rods, hooks, wires and screws used in various combinations.
  36. Spondylitis
    an inflammatory disease of the spine.
  37. Spondylolisthesis
    an anterior displacement of a vertebra on the adjacent lower vertebra.
  38. Structural curve
    a segment of the spine that has fixed lateral curvature.
  39. Thoracic curvature
    any spinal curvature in which the apex of the curve is between the second and eleventh thoracic vertebrae.
  40. Thoracolumbar curve
    any curvature that has its apex at the twelfth thoracic or first lumbar vertebra.
  41. Thoracolumbosacral orthosis
    (TLSO) a type of brace incorporating the thoracic and lumbar spine.
  42. Vertebral column
    the flexible supporting column of vertebrae separated by discs and bound together by ligaments.
Glossary terms provided by the Scoliosis Research Society