Spine Surgery Glossary

Pertaining to the space within the dural sac containing cerebrospinal fluid, relevant for drug delivery and diagnostic p...

Implantable device that delivers baclofen medication directly into the cerebrospinal fluid to manage severe spasticity i...

Minimally invasive procedure to treat vertebral compression fractures using balloon inflation and cement injection.

Excessive forward curvature of the thoracic spine, creating a hunched appearance.

Surgical removal of the lamina (back part of a vertebra) to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.

Surgical technique that expands the spinal canal by creating a hinged opening in the lamina rather than complete removal...

Surgical removal of a small portion of the lamina to decompress neural structures while preserving spinal stability.

A type of cervical spine fixation hardware placed into the lateral mass of cervical vertebrae for posterior stabilizatio...

Narrowing of the lateral spinal canal where nerve roots exit the thecal sac.

Normal inward curvature of the cervical and lumbar spine; excessive curvature when pathological.

Surgical techniques that minimize tissue trauma through smaller incisions and specialized instrumentation.

Signal intensity changes in vertebral endplates and adjacent bone marrow on MRI, classified into three types based on ap...

Dysfunction of the spinal cord causing neurological symptoms below the level of injury.

The posterior portion of a vertebra formed by the pedicles and laminae, enclosing the spinal canal.

Surgical removal of structures compressing neural elements to relieve symptoms and restore function.

Openings between adjacent vertebrae through which nerve roots exit the spinal canal.

Lower extremity pain and weakness that occurs with walking due to spinal stenosis.

A surgical procedure that fuses the occiput (skull base) to the cervical spine, typically extending to C1-C2.

A fracture of the odontoid process (dens) of the second cervical vertebra, classified by Anderson and D'Alonzo criteria.

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament causing spinal cord compression.

Pathological condition where the posterior longitudinal ligament calcifies and becomes bone-like.

Bony outgrowth or spur that develops along joint margins, commonly contributing to spinal stenosis.

A stress fracture or defect in the pars interarticularis, the bony connection between vertebral facets.

Titanium screw inserted through the pedicle of a vertebra for spinal fixation and fusion procedures.