Hip Replacement Glossary

See here for shoulder definitions.

Abduction: Sidewise movement of the leg away from the body.
Acetabulum: A cup-shaped depression on the external surface of the hipbone into which the head of the femur fits. The socket in the ball and socket joint of the hip.
Adduction: Sideward movement of the leg toward the body.
Alloy: A substance composed of two or more metals. One serves as the matrix and the others form islands within the matrix.
Anklyosing Spondylitis: An arthritis of the spine that resembles rheumatoid arthritis.
Antibiotics: A soluble substance from a mold or bacterium that inhibits the growth of other microorganisms.
Anticoagulant: A medication that prevents blood from clotting (changing from a liquid to a gel).
Articular Cartilage: A resilient tissue that covers the surface of bones where they meet in a joint. The cells of articular cartilage are in small clusters separated by a matrix of collagen fibers and protein-carbohydrate molecules.
Arthritis: Joint inflammation.
Avascular Necrosis: A condition where bony tissue dies because of insufficient blood supply.
Bone graft: Ground up bone tissue transplanted from one side to another, often used for filling holes.
Broach: A surgical tool, similar to a rasp file, used to shape the cavity made in the femur to hold the femoral prosthesis.
Bursa(e): A closed sac or envelope lined with synovial membrane and containing fluid, usually located in areas where there is friction.
Cauterize: Application of heat or electric current to seal off blood vessels to prevent bleeding.
Collagen: The major protein of tendons, ligaments, fasciae, cartilage, and bone.
Complication: An abnormal event occurring during a disease or operation that is not an essential part of the disease, even though it may result from it or from independent causes.
Corrosion: Gradual deterioration (e.g. of a metal) by chemical reaction.
Crutch(es): A device used singly or in pairs that transfers some of the weight to the arms to help in walking when the hip or leg is injured.
Cyst: An abnormal sac, with a membranous lining, that contains gas, fluid or a semisolid material.
Dislocation: A condition in which the femur has come out of the acetabulum.
Dissect: To separate tissues along natural lines.
Elective surgery: Planned surgery (as opposed to emergency surgery)
Electrocardiogram: A chart showing heart action.
Embolism: A clot that dislodges and moves via the bloodstream into a new location, such as into lung tissue, where it may cause serious damage.
Epidural: Upon the outermost membrane covering the spinal cord.
External rotation: Turning the thigh outward.
Fascia: A sheet of fibrous tissue that encloses muscles and groups of muscles and separates their several layers or groups.
Femur: The long bone of the thigh.
Fibrocartilage: A type of cartilage that appears as a transition between cartilage and tendon, ligament, or bone.
Forward Flexion: The act of lifting the straightened leg in front.
Flexion contracture: A postural change in which the thighs remain bent. It is caused by muscle shortening or soft-tissue scarring (for example, if a person has been in a wheelchair for a long time).
Groin: Crease where the thigh meets the trunk of the body.
Hemiarthroplasty: An operation in which one joint surface is replaced with a prosthesis.
Impingement: A condition where malpositioned bones restrict movement. If these bones squeeze tendons or other soft tissues, inflammation and pain may result.
Incision: A cut or surgical wound.
Inflammation: A local response to injury due to a physical reaction (such as abrasion), or to chemical or biological agents, which is characterized by destruction and/or removal of the injured material as well as repair and healing. The signs of inflammation are redness, heat, swelling, pain, and lost function. Not all of these signs are necessarily present.
Internal rotation: Rotating or turning the hip inward.
Joint capsule: The sac that encloses a joint, formed by an outer fibrous capsule and an inner synovial membrane.
Labrum: A fibrocartilaginous rim attached to the margin of the acetabulum of the hipbone.
Ligament: A band or sheet of fibrous tissue that connects two bones, cartilages, or other structures.
Metal fatigue: Fracture of a metal component, such as a stem, resulting from tensile stress.
Osteophytes: Abnormal bony outgrowths that generally form at the edge of bone surfaces.
Osteoarthritis: Arthritis charactized by erosion of articular cartilage, more common in older people.
Osteoporosis: Bone loss or thinning.
NSAID: Abbreviation for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
Paget's Disease: A skeletal disease of older persons, often inherited, in which bone breakdown and formation are both increased, leading to thickening and softening of the bones.
Pelvis: The massive cup-shaped ring of bone in the lower half of the trunk, formed of the hip bone on either side and in front, and the sacrum, and coccyx in the back.
Peri-operative specialist physician: A doctor who examines patients contemplating surgery prior to that time in order to assess special needs or possibly unrecognized conditions that might influence the outcome of surgery.
Prosthesis: Manufactured substitute for a diseased or missing part of the body.
Reduction, reduced: The restoration of normal anatomy by manipulation or surgery. For example, following dislocation, the head of the femur is repositioned, or reduced, into its socket on the hip.
Referred pain: Pain felt in one part of the body as a result of injury or disease in another part of the body.
Reamer: A rotating drilling tool used to shape or enlarge a hole.
Revision surgery: Surgery to remove a defective prosthesis or prosthesis component, to reposition it, or to replace it.
Rheumatoid arthritis: A chronic and progressive systemic inflammatory disease which damages many joints, especially of the hands and feet.
Secondary: Another condition that develops as a consequence of the first condition.
Stabilize: To hold securely in place.
Subchondral: Beneath cartilage.
Subluxation: Looseness or slipping of the femoral head within the acetabulum.
Synovium: Membrane lining a joint cavity.
Synovial fluid: Lubricating liquid made by the synovium.
Systemic: Relating to the entire body as opposed to localized regions of the body.
Tendons: Fibrous bands, one at each end of a muscle, that connect the muscle to bones.
Thrombosis: Formation of a thrombus or clot within a blood vessel that may block that vessel and cause death to the tissue it normally supplies.
Total hip replacement: Replacement of both the femoral and acetabular hip components (as opposed to hemiarthroplasty in which one component is replaced.)
Trauma: Physical injury.
Trendelberg sign: The pelvis sags on the side opposite to the dislocation or weakness when the hip and knee of the normal side is flexed; without dislocation or weakness, the pelvis rises on the side of the flexed hip or knee.
Trial prosthesis: A temporary prosthesis used to test the angles, size and depth of holes prior to installing the final prosthesis.
Trochanter: One of two bony ridges (the greater and lesser trochanters) near the upper end of the femur.
Urine specimen analysis: Tests using urine to measure its inorganic and organic molecules, pH, acidity, concentration, nitrogen content, and other metabolic properties.