Joint Replacement Dictionary

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Calcaneal Spur - A heel spur. A bony growth off of the heel often resulting in recurrent pain.   Carpal Tunnel Release - An orthopedic surgical procedure, which relieves the pressure exerted on the median nerve within the carpal tunnel in the wrist. This surgery may be performed conventionally via a small incision or using a fiber optic scope (endoscopic carpal tunnel repair).   Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - A nerve disorder in the hand that causes pain and loss of feeling.   Cartilage - Connective tissue containing collagen type II and large amounts of proteoglycan, particularly chondroitin sulphate. Cartilage is more flexible and compressible than bone; it covers the articular surfaces (bone ends).   Cervical - Pertaining to the neck or to the neck of any organ or structure.   Cervical Spine - Neck area of the spine.   Chondromalacia - The progressive erosion of cartilage, common in the knee joint where it is known as chondromalacia patella. See Encyclopedia   Coccydynia - Pain in the coccyx (tailbone).   Collateral Ligaments - A number of ligaments on either side of a joint having a hinge like movement. They occur at the elbow, knee, wrist, hands and feet.   Colles Fracture - A common fracture of the wrist joint due to a fall on an outstretched hand. Colles fracture is also referred to as the silver fork deformity.   Compartment Syndrome - Build up of pressure in muscles, secondary to injury.   Compression Fracture - A spinal fracture, more specifically of a vertebral body. Compression fractions result in a loss of HEIGHT of the vertebral body on X-ray. May occur in any region of the spine. Commonly in post-menopausal women who are subject to osteoporosis.   Contracture - A condition of fixed high resistance to passive stretch of a muscle, resulting from fibrosis of the tissues supporting the muscles or the joints, or from disorders of the muscle fibers.   Contusion - A bruise, an injury of a body part without a break in the skin.   Cramp - A painful, involuntary, spasmodic muscle contraction.   Cramp, Writer’s - A dystonia (painful contracture) that affects the muscles of the hand and sometimes the forearm and only occurs during handwriting. Similar focal dystonias have also been called typist’s cramp, pianist’s cramp, musician’s cramp, and golfer’s cramp.   Cruciate - A cross or “X” shape. There are two cruciate ligaments in the human knee.   Cruciate (anterior) - One the most commonly injured ligaments which stabilizes the knee joint. The cruciate ligaments are cross-shaped within the knee joint. The posterior cruciate is deeper (more posterior) within the joint and not as commonly injured as the anterior cruciate. See Encyclopedia