| Glossary
of Terms |
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| adolescent
scoliosis |
| Lateral
spinal curvature that appears before the onset of
puberty and before skeletal maturity. |
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| autograft |
| Scoliosis
of any cause which is present after skeletal maturity.
|
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| 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 |
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| autotransfusion |
| The
practice and technique of transfusing previously drawn
autologous blood to the same patient. |
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| cervical
spine |
| That
portion of the vertebral column contained in the neck,
consisting of seven cervical vertebrae between the
skull and the rib cage. |
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| compensatory
curve |
| In
spinal deformity, a secondary curve located above
or below the structural curvature, which develops
in order to maintain normal body alignment. |
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| decompensation |
| As
it refers to scoliosis, this is the loss of spinal
balance when the thoracic cage is not centered over
the pelvis. |
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| discectomy |
| Removal
of all or part of an intervertebral disc (the soft
tissue that acts as a shock absorber between the vertebral
bodies). |
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| 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. |
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| 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.
|
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| hemivertebra |
| A
congenital anomaly of the spine caused by incomplete
development of one side of a vertebra resulting in
a wedge shape. |
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| hysterical
scoliosis |
| A
non-structural deformity of the spine that develops
as a manifestation of a psychological disorder. |
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| idiopathic
scoliosis |
| A
structural spinal curvature for which cause has not
been established. |
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| inclinometer |
| An
instrument used to measure the angle of thoracic prominence,
referred to as angle of trunk rotation (ATR) (see
also: scoliometer). |
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| infantile
scoliosis |
| A
curvature of the spine that develops before three
years of age. |
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| juvenile
scoliosis |
| Scoliosis
developing between the ages of three and ten years.
|
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| kyphoscoliosis |
| A
structural scoliosis associated with increased roundback.
|
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| kyphosis |
| A
posterior convex angulation of the spine as evaluated
on a side view of the spine. Contrast to lordosis.
|
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| lordoscoliosis |
| A
lateral curvature of the spine associated with increased
swayback. |
| |
| lordosis |
| An
anterior angulation of the spine in the sagittal plane.
Contrast to kyphosis. |
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| lumbar
curve |
| A
spinal curvature whose apex is between the first and
fourth lumbar vertebrae (also known as lumbar scoliosis).
|
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| lumbosacral |
| Pertaining
to the lumbar and sacral regions of the back. |
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| lumbosacral
curve |
| A
lateral curvature with its apex at the fifth lumbar
vertebra or below (also known as lumbosacral scoliosis).
|
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| neuromuscular
scoliosis |
| A
form of scoliosis caused by a neurologic disorder
of the central nervous system or muscle. |
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| nonstructural
curve |
| Description
of a spinal curvature or scoliosis that does not have
fixed residual deformity. |
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| pedicle |
| Bony
process projecting backward from the body of a vertebra,
which connects with the lamina on either side. |
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| posterior
fusion |
| A
technique of stabilizing two or more vertebra by bone
grafting with entry from back. |
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| primary
curve |
| The
first or earliest curve to appear. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
| |
| scoliometer |
| A
proprietary name for an inclinometer used in measuring
trunk rotation. |
| |
| 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. |
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| 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.
|
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| spondylitis |
| An
inflammatory disease of the spine. |
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| spondylolisthesis |
| An
anterior displacement of a vertebra on the adjacent
lower vertebra. |
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| structural
curve |
| A
segment of the spine that has fixed lateral curvature.
|
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| thoracic
curvature |
| Any
spinal curvature in which the apex of the curve is
between the second and eleventh thoracic vertebrae.
|
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| thoracolumbar
curve |
| Any
curvature that has its apex at the twelfth thoracic
or first lumbar vertebra. |
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| thoracolumbosacral
orthosis |
| (TLSO)
a type of brace incorporating the thoracic and lumbar
spine. |
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| vertebral
column |
| The
flexible supporting column of vertebrae separated
by discs and bound together by ligaments. |
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return to top ) |
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