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Anterior:
Closer to or at the front of the body.
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Anterior
Cruciate Ligament (ACL):
The ligament that connects the tibia to
the femur at the center of the knee. Its function is to limit rotation and
forward motion of the tibia.
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Antibiotic Cement
Spacer:
In the event a patient has a severe
infection in the knee after a Total Knee Replacement, an antibiotic cement
spacer will be placed in the knee (after the old prosthetics are removed) until
the infection is healed and a new prosthetic can be inserted. The cement spacer
is constructed of the same material as the cement used to hold the prosthetic
components in place.
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Arthroscopy:
A minimally invasive surgery to
repair or remove soft tissues of the knee, such as the Anterior Cruciate
Ligament or the meniscus.
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Articular Cartilage:
The specific cartilage that covers the
moving surfaces inside the knee such as the tibia and the femur, as well as the
underside of the patella.
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Bone
Spurs:
Abnormal projections of bone, also known
as osteophytes. Usually caused by increased stress on the ends of the
bones.
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Cartilage:
A smooth material that covers bone ends at
a joint to cushion the bone and allow the joint to move easily without
pain.
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Collateral Ligaments:
Ligaments that run along the sides of the
knee and limit sideways motion.
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Condyle:
A rounded projection at the end of a bone
that anchors muscle ligaments and articulates with adjacent
bones.
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Femur:
The thigh bone or upper leg
bone.
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Fibula:
The outer and thinner of the two bones of
the human leg between the knee and the ankle.
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Glucosamine/Chondroitin:
Glocosamine is a dietary supplement that
helps to grow and repair cartilage. Chondroitin helps cartilage maintain
elasticity.
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Hamstring
Muscles:
The muscle group located on the back of
the thighs; they allow the knee to flex, the thigh to extend and the leg to be
drawn inward.
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Hyaluronic Acid Injections:
Hyaluronic acid is found in the
fluid in your joints and helps to protect them from wear. Osteoarthritis can
cause the hyaluronic acid to get thinner, which means it doesn’t protect the
joint as well. Injections can put more hyaluronic acid into your knee joint and
help protect it more.
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Intramedullary Canal:
The canal that runs up the center of the
femur.
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Lateral:
Farther from the midline of the body (near
the side).
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Lateral Compartment:
The joint on the outer, or
lateral side, of the knee.
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Long Bone X-ray:
A combination of three separate x-rays to
produce one image of the legs.
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Ligaments:
Elastic bands of tissue that connect bone
to bone.
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Malleoli:
Either of the two rounded protuberances on
each side of the ankle, the inner formed by a projection of the tibia and the
outer by a projection of the fibula.
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Medial:
Closer to the midline of the body (near
the middle).
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Medial Compartment:
The joint on the inner, or
medial, side of the knee.
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Medial
Parapatellar Retinaculum:
The sleeve of tissue medial (midline) to
the patella (kneecap). This is a continuation of the extensor mechanism
(quadriceps and patellar tendon).
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Meniscus:
Pads of cartilage that further cushion a
joint, acting as shock absorbers between two bones. Meniscus can be found on
both the lateral (on the side) and medial (near the middle) side of the knee
joint.
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Menisectomy:
Surgery that results in the removal of
part of the meniscus, or cartilage, of the knee. This is typically performed
arthroscopically, or through small holes instead of a large surgical incision.
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Osteoarthritis:
The most common type of arthritis
affecting the knee. It is a chronic disease and is characterized by destruction
of cartilage, overgrowth of bone, bone spur formation and impaired function.
This type of arthritis occurs when bone rubs against bone and occurs in most
people as they age.
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Osteophytes:
Abnormal projections of bone, also known
as bone spurs. Usually caused by increased stress on the ends of the
bones.
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Patella:
The kneecap; a flat triangular bone
located at the front of the knee joint.
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Patella Femoral Arthritis:
Arthritis that is primarily focused around
the kneecap (patella) and femur (thigh bone).
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Patellar Ligament:
This ligament helps secure the patella
over the front of the knee joint.
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Patello Femoral Joint:
The joint under the kneecap, or
patella.
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Primary Total
Knee Replacement:
A "Primary" Total Knee Replacement refers
to the first time a patient receives a knee replacement. The surgeon alters the
femur, tibia and patella and fits those bones with prosthetic
components.
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Post Traumatic Arthritis:
A sub-classification of
osteoarthritis.
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Posterior:
Closer to or at the back of the
body.
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Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL):
The ligament located just behind the
anterior cruciate ligament. It limits the backward motion of the
tibia.
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Prosthesis (plural is prostheses):
An artificial body part designed to
supplement or replace natural parts. In total knee replacement, the prosthetic
components replace the ends of the tibia and femur, the underside of the patella
and compensate for cartilage and some ligaments.
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Pulse Oximeter:
A probe placed on a patient's finger that
measures the oxygen saturation level in his/her blood.
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Quadricep Muscles:
The muscle group located on the front of
the thighs; they extend the legs.
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Resident, Orthopedic Resident:
After completing four years of medical
school, doctors-in-training have a period of residency, or learning on the job.
The residency can last from 4 to 7 years, and individuals at this stage of
training are known as residents.
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Revision Surgery:
A surgery that replaces knee components or
corrects problems from previous total knee replacement surgeries.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis:
An inflammatory disease that involves the
lining of the joint (synovium). The inflammation generally affects the joints in
the hands and feet and tends to occur equally on both sides. Over time,
cartilage and bone becomes eroded and the joints become very
deformed.
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Steroid Injections:
Injections of corticosteroid
directly into the knee can often produce pain relief for those suffering from
osteoarthritis. Corticosteriods reduce inflammation at the area of injection
for days or weeks at a time.
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Synovial Membrane:
This membrane produces lubricating fluid
(synovial fluid), which contributes to the smooth movement of the
knee.
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Tendons:
Tough cords of tissue that connect muscles
to bone.
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Tibia:
The shin bone or the larger bone of the
lower leg.
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Valgus:
An abnormal position in which part of a
limb is twisted outward away from the midline, opposite of varus. Also known as
knock-knee.
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Varus:
An abnormal position in which part of a
limb is twisted inward toward the midline, opposite of valgus. Also known as
bowleg. |
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