Glossary
- CRANIOPLASTY
- The operative repair of a defect of the skull.
- CRANIOSTENOSIS
- Premature closure of cranial sutures, limiting or distorting the growth of the skull.
- CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS
- Premature closure of cranial sutures, limiting or distorting the growth of the skull.
- CRANIOTOMY
- Opening of the skull, usually by creating a flap of bone.
- CRANIUM
- The part of the skull that holds the brain.
- CRANKSHAFT PHENOMENON
- Progressions of a spinal curve due to continued growth of the unfused anterior aspect of the spine following a posterior spine fusion for scoliosis in children.
- CRICOID RING
- Cartilage ring above the trachea and below the thyroid cartilage, the first cricoid ring is at the level of C-6.
- CSF
- Cerebrospinal Fluid.
- CSF SHUNT
- A bypass or diversion of accumulations of cerebrospinal fluid to an absorbing or excreting system.
- CT SCAN
- (computed tomography scan): A diagnostic imaging technique in which a computer reads x-rays to create a three-dimensional map of soft tissue or bone.
- CYTOLOGY
- Study of cells.
- DE ANDRADE and MACNAB
- Anterior approach for cervical occipital fusion.
- DE-MINERALIZED BONE
- Bone tissue which has been depleted of its minerals; e.g., calcium and phosphorous.
- DECOMPRESSION
- In relation to the spine this procedure is carried out to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.
- DECOMPRESSIVE LAMINECTOMY
- A decompression done by removing the lamina and spinous process.
- DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION
- A tremor control therapy for patients with Parkinson's Disease or essential tremors, who do not respond effectively to medications. It is a surgical reversible procedure that involves implanting a device to deliver mild electrical stimulation to block the brain signals that tremor.
- DEGENERATIVE
- The lesion results from intersegmental instability of long duration.
- DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE
- Gradual or rapid deterioration of the chemical composition and physical properties of the disc space.
- DEGENERATIVE TENOSIS
- Gradual hypertrophy of the vertebral body margin, facet joints, and ligamentum flavum leading to stenosis.
- DEMINERALIZED BONE MATRIX (DMB)
- is a source of BMP and is derived from pulverized bone specimens that are demineralized with an acid solution. It is used as a bone grafting material, but DMB has produced disappointing results in clinical studies, probably due to low concentrations of BMP that can also vary from batch to batch.
- DENDRITE
- A nerve cell process that transmits impulses toward the cell body.
- DEPRESSED SKULL FRACTURE
- A break in the bones of the head in which some bone is pushed inward, possibly pushing on or cutting into the brain.
- DERMATOME
- Refers to the distribution of sensory nerves near the skin that are responsible for pain, tingling, and other sensations (or lack of).
- DIABETES INSIPIDUS
- Excretion of large amounts of urine of low specific gravity. The inability to concentrate urine.
- DIAPHRAGM
- The muscle between the abdomen and thorax; main muscle of normal breathing.
- DIASTEMATOMYELIA
- Congenital defect associated with spina bifida in which the spinal cord is split in half by bony spicules or fibrous bands, each half being surrounded by a dural sac.
- DIFFUSE AXONAL INJURY
- Damage to the axons of many nerve cells that lie in different parts of the brain.
- DIFFUSE BRAIN INJURY
- Damage to the brain that can affect many parts of the brain, often in a subtle fashion; examples include diffuse axonal injury and inadequate blood flow.
- DIPHENYLHYDANTOIN
- Dilantin; a medication used to control seizures.
- DIPLOPIA
- Double vision, due usually to weakness or paralysis of one or more of the extra-ocular muscles.
