MED TERM CH13: diseases/disorders, procedures, and specialists

scoliosis

abnormal lateral curvature with twisting of spine; most common in girls during growth spurts

kyphosis (humpback)

excessive posterior curvature of thoracic spine; caused by osteoporosis

lordosis (swayback)

excessive anterior curvature of lumbar region; associated with obesity or late pregnancy

closed/simple

FX: bone is broken, but skin remains intact

open/compound

FX: broken bone pierces through the skin

transverse

FX: bone is broken straight across

spiral

FX: bone has twisted apart

comminuted

FX: bone is crushed or splintered into pieces

impacted

FX: one bone fragment is driven directly into another fragment due to compression

greenstick

FX: bone is partially broken; occurs almost exclusively in children

osteosarcoma

most common bone cancer; starts in growing bone tissues of youth

Ewing sarcoma

highly aggressive youth cancer that metastasizes quickly

chondrosarcoma

cancer arising in cartilage cells; affects adults

osteoarthritis (OA)

degenerative wear-and-tear joint disease; associated with crepitus

crepitus

clicking/crackling sound

rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

chronic autoimmune disease causing symmetrical joint destruction & swan like deformities; tested via anti-CCP and RF

osteoporosis

severe loss of bone mass making bones brittle; diagnosed via a DEXA scan

gout

inflammatory arthritis from build-up of serum uric acid forming needle crystals in joints (often big toe); waste product of purine breakdown

carpal tunnel syndrome

a disorder that occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist

systemic lupus erythematosus

when the immune system attacks its own tissues, causing inflammation and in some cases permanent tissue damage

rickets

a disease in children caused by extreme and prolonged vitamin D deficiency, characterized by softening and distortion of the bones

orthopedist

MD specializing in musculoskeletal prevention, treatment, and surgery

rheumatologist

physician specializing in joint inflammation & systemic autoimmune disease

doctor of osteopathy (DO)

uses a whole-person approach with specialized training in osteopathic manipulation

score greater than or equal to -1.0

DEXA T SCORE: bone is healthy

score -1.0 to -2.5

DEXA T SCORE: indicates osteopenia

score less than or equal to -2.5

DEXA T SCORE: indicates osteoporosis

orthopedics

a branch of medicine that treats disorders and diseases related to the musculoskeletal system

radiologist

a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating injuries and diseases using medical imaging procedures

bone mineral density testing

a test that measures calcium and other minerals in bone

dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)

use radiation to measure how much calcium and other minerals are in a specific area of the bone

arthrocentesis

surgical puncture to aspirate fluid from a joint

arthrodesis

surgical immobilization/fusion of adjacent bones

arthroscopy

visual exam inside a joint using an endoscope

open reduction & internal fixation (ORIF)

surgical alignment of broken bones followed by internal fixation using screws, pins, or plates