Orthopedic Surgery Glossary
100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
Sagittal Balance
The alignment of the spine in the side-view plane, crucial for proper spinal biomechanics.
FAI
Femoroacetabular impingement; abnormal contact between femoral neck and acetabular rim.
femoral anteversion
Forward angulation of the femoral neck relative to the plane of the femoral condyles.
Femoroacetabular Impingement
Mechanical conflict between the femoral neck and acetabular rim during hip motion.
Fracture Reduction
The process of realigning fractured bone fragments to their normal anatomical position.
Galeazzi fracture
Fracture of the radius shaft with dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint.
genu recurvatum
Knee deformity characterized by hyperextension beyond the normal anatomic position.
glenohumeral instability
Abnormal motion or displacement of the humeral head within the glenoid socket.
Hallux Valgus
A deformity of the great toe where it angles toward the second toe, commonly called a bunion.
Hardware Removal
Surgical procedure to remove orthopedic implants such as plates, screws, or rods previously inserted for fracture fixati...
heterotopic ossification
Abnormal bone and cartilage formation in soft tissues outside the skeletal system.
HTO
High tibial osteotomy, a surgical procedure to realign the knee joint by cutting and repositioning the tibia.
Ilizarov Frame
A circular external fixation device used for bone lengthening, deformity correction, and complex fracture management.
impingement syndrome
Compression and irritation of soft tissues, commonly in the shoulder, causing pain and limited range of motion.
intercondylar eminence
The bony ridge between the tibial condyles where cruciate ligaments attach.
intramedullary rod
A metal implant inserted into the medullary canal of long bones for fracture fixation.
Kienbock Disease
Avascular necrosis of the lunate bone in the wrist, often requiring surgical intervention.
Kirschner Wire
A thin metallic pin used for skeletal fixation, particularly in fracture reduction and joint stabilization.
Kyphoplasty
A minimally invasive surgical procedure to treat vertebral compression fractures by inflating a balloon and injecting bo...
Lateral Collateral Ligament
A ligament on the outer side of the knee that provides stability against varus (inward) stress.
Limb Length Discrepancy
Condition where one limb is measurably shorter than its contralateral counterpart.
Lisfranc Injury
A disruption of the tarsometatarsal joint complex in the midfoot, ranging from ligamentous sprain to fracture-dislocatio...
Load-Sharing Classification
A grading system for thoracolumbar burst fractures based on vertebral body comminution and deformity.
Locked Plating
A surgical fixation technique using plates with threaded holes that lock with screws to create a fixed-angle construct.
malalignment
Improper positioning or angulation of bone fragments, joints, or anatomical structures.