Essential knee terminology
NAMIC search for term

NAMIC is an abbreviation of Nanofracture Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis.

Nanofracture search for term

Nanofracture is a procedure whereby a narrow 'pick' is used to make 9mm deep holes through the bone plate under the joint cartilage, with the purpose of encouraging blood and bone marrow cells to enter the area and help repair the defect.

Nanofracture Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis search for term

Nanofracture Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis is a cartilage regeneration procedure combining nanofracture and AMIC.

National Health Service search for term

The National Health Service (NHS) is the state healthcare system of the United Kingdom.

National joint registry search for term

A National Joint Registry is a country's registry of all hip, knee, ankle, elbow and shoulder replacement operations.

Navigation system search for term

A navigation system is a computer-guided system to help the surgeon to make decisions on where to make bony cuts, for example in knee replacement or osteotomy.

Necrosis search for term

Necrosis is the death and breakdown of tissues.

Nerve search for term

A nerve is a tract of fibres that transmit impulses relating to movement and sensation.

Neurological search for term

Neurological means relating to nerves.

Neuroma search for term

A neuroma is a small knot of nerve endings, which can form when a nerve has been cut.

Neuromuscular search for term

The word 'neuro' means 'nerves' or relating to the nervous system. 'Neuromuscular' means the muscles and the nerves that give the instructions to the muscles.

Neuropathic search for term

Neuropathic means an abnormality arising from the nervous system.

NHS search for term

NHS is an abbreviation of 'National Health Service'.

Non-isometric search for term

Non-isometric means that in a ligament the length cannot be maintained throughout the range of motion of the joint.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory search for term

A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory is a medication to reduce inflammation, but which does not contain steroids (cortisone products).

Notch search for term

The notch in the knee world refers to the 'intercondylar notch'.

Notch impingement search for term

Notch impingement is when a cruciate ligament graft is wrongly placed or too bulky, and the fibres impinge on the roof of the bony notch of the femur.

Page updated January 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

Notchplasty search for term

A notchplasty is a surgical widening of the intercondylar notch, usually performed as part of an anterior cruciate ligament revision to limit trauma to the reconstructed ligament.

Page updated March 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

Noyes classification search for term

The Noyes' Classification is a system for classifying via arthroscopy the degree of cartilage destruction in an arthritic joint.

NSAID search for term

NSAID is an abbreviation of 'non-steroidal anti-inflammatory'.

NWB search for term

NWB is an abbreviation for 'non-weight-bearing'.

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