Essential knee terminology
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- Sag sign search for term
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The sag sign indicates a possible incompetency of the posterior cruciate ligament.
- Sagittal plane search for term
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The sagittal plane is the plane of a body 'slice' in a front to back direction.
- Saphenous nerve search for term
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The saphenous nerve is the nerve branching off from the larger femoral nerve, and which transmits sensation on the inner aspect of the leg.
- Scaffold search for term
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A scaffold in orthopaedics is a framework that is used to facilitate regenerating a damaged tissue or bone.
- Schatzker classification search for term
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The Schatzker classification is a system for the classification of tibial plateau fractures. I - VI
- Schenck Classification search for term
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The Schenck Classification gives an idea of the degrees of knee dislocation based on the number of ligaments damaged, and the presence of associated fractures.
- Screw home mechanism search for term
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The screw home mechanism is a movement of the joint that is key to keeping the knee stable while standing upright.
- Second look arthroscopy search for term
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A 'second look' arthroscopy is when a patient is pro-actively booked to have an arthroscopy just to check up on a previous surgical procedure.
- Segond Fracture search for term
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A Segond Fracture is an avulsion of a small chip of bone off the lateral side of the femur, commonly seen in association with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture.
- Semi-lunar cartilage search for term
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A semi-lunar cartilage is the old-fashioned name for a meniscus. 'Semi-lunar' means 'half-moon' and refers to the shape of the meniscus.
- Semimembranosus search for term
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The semimembranosus muscle is one of the three hamstrings muscles.
- Semitendinosus search for term
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The semitendinosus muscle is one of the hamstrings muscles.
- Semitendinosus graft search for term
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A semitendinosus graft is a transplant derived from the tendon of the semitendinosus muscle.
- Semitendinosus tenodesis search for term
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Semitendinosus tenodesis is one of several surgical procedures to improve knee stability.
- Sherman Classification search for term
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The Sherman classification is a classification based upon the situation of an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear.
- Shin bone search for term
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The shin bone larger bone of the lower leg, correctly called the 'tibia'.
- Short arc extensions search for term
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Short arc extensions are knee rehabilitation exercises to re-trigger quads activity.
- Side-stepping search for term
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Side-stepping is a knee rehabilitation exercise to improve hip abduction.
- Single Stage Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation search for term
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Single Stage Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (STACi) is a one-step surgical cartilage repair procedure.
- Single-bundle ACL graft search for term
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A single-bundle ACL graft is a reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament using a 'single-bundle' of graft material as opposed to a 'double-bundle'.
- Single-photon-emission computed tomography search for term
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Single-photon-emission computed tomography is a radioactive imaging technique to give information about blood flow in the body.
- Slocum test search for term
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The Slocum test is a modification of the anterior drawer test and is a test of anteromedial rotary instability and anterolateral rotary instability of the knee.
- Small-incision knee replacement search for term
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A small-incision knee replacement is a knee replacement performed with a smaller incision than traditionally, and using special techniques and instruments.
- Snapping search for term
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Snapping is a knee symptoms where the patient experiences a sharp noisy snap of structures usually at the outer side or back of the knee.
- SPECT search for term
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SPECT is an abbreviation of 'single-photon-emission computed tomography'.
- Sports therapist search for term
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A Sports Therapist is a healthcare professional specifically concerned with the prevention of injury and the rehabilitation of the patient back to optimum levels of functional, occupational and sports specific fitness.
- SPP search for term
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SPP is an abbreviation of 'suprapatellar plica'.
- Spurs search for term
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Spurs are small and sometimes sharp abnormal bony outgrowths at the joint edges, usually associated with osteoarthritis.
- Squats search for term
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Squats are knee rehabilitation exercises - with your arms out in front of you, bending as if you are going to sit, but then straightening up again.
- Squinting patellae search for term
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Squinting patellae is when the two kneecaps face towards each other despite the patient standing comfortably with the feet facing forwards.
- STACi search for term
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STACi is an abbreviation of Single Stage Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation.
- Standing wall slides search for term
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Standing wall slides are knee rehabilitation exercises.
- Staple search for term
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Staples for ACL graft fixation are made of cobalt chrome with two sharp leg spikes for easier penetration into the bone without predrilling.
- Static bicycle search for term
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A static bicycle is an exercise bicycle on a stand, where the wheels turn but the bicycle stays still.
- Static quads search for term
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Static quads are very early knee rehabilitation exercises to activate the quadriceps muscle of the lap.
- Stem cell search for term
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A stem cell is an unspecialised cell with a remarkable ability to divide over and over and become differentiated into another type of cell, replacing damaged body tissue.
- Stem cell line search for term
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A stem cell line is a commercial culture of stem cells all derived from the same original cell source, which has been allowed to multiply.
- Stem cells search for term
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Stem cells are unspecialised cells with a remarkable ability to reproduce and become differentiated into another type of cell, replacing damaged body tissue.
- Step ups search for term
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Step ups are knee rehabilitation exercises for rebuilding early quadriceps muscle strength.
- Steroids search for term
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Steroids used in orthopaedics are hormonal drugs used to suppress inflammation.
- Straight leg raise search for term
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A straight leg raise is knee rehabilitation exercise to strengthen the quads muscles, but it is also used by surgeons to give a quick idea of the activity of the quads after surgery.
- Stromal vascular fraction search for term
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Stromal vascular fraction is the name given to that portion of tissue derived from microfragmented fat, containing mesenchymal signalling cells (MSCs) and pericytes, which are both important in the anti-inflammatory results from the Lipogems procedure.
- Stutter test search for term
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The stutter test is a test for the presence of a medial synovial plica.
- Subchondral search for term
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The word 'subchondral' is an adjective referring to the layer of bone immediately under the articular cartilage.
- Subchondral drilling search for term
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Subchondral drilling is a surgical procedure where small holes are drilled through damaged joint cartilage into the bone marrow of the underlying bone.
- Subluxation search for term
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Subluxation is when the bones of a joint nearly dislocate, but not quite, and then return to a normal position, eg patellar subluxation.
- Sudek's atrophy search for term
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Sudeck's atrophy is an old term to describe tissue wasting secondary to complex regional pain syndrome.
- Sulcus angle search for term
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The sulcus angle is a measurement of the steepness of the walls of the groove in which the kneecap rides (the trochlear groove).
- Superficial peroneal nerve search for term
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The superficial peroneal nerve is the superficial branch of the common peroneal nerve.
- Superior search for term
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Superior is a positional word, meaning 'above'.
- Suprapatellar search for term
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Suprapatellar is a positional adjective describing something to be 'above the patella' (kneecap).
- Suprapatellar bursa search for term
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The suprapatellar bursa is an extension of the joint cavity above the kneecap.
- Suprapatellar plica search for term
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A suprapatellar plica is a membrane - possibly an embryonic remnant - that stretches across the joint cavity in the pouch above the kneecap.
- Suprapatellar pouch search for term
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The suprapatellar pouch is the extension of the knee joint cavity above the patella.
- Surface replacement search for term
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A surface replacement involves an implant usually used on the surface of the condyles (end of the femur) or for the damaged kneecap and groove in which the kneecap (patella) runs.
- SVF search for term
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SVF is an abbreviation of Stromal Vascular Fraction.
- Swelling search for term
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Swelling is an abnormal enlargement of a part of the body, typically as a result of an accumulation of fluid.
- Sympathetic nervous system search for term
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The sympathetic nervous system is the nerve system that controls things like heart rate and blood pressure.
- Symptom search for term
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A symptom is a discomforture felt by the patient - for example pain, giving way, catching.
- Syndrome search for term
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A syndrome is a collection of signs and symptoms often found in association with one another.
- Synovectomy search for term
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Synovectomy is a surgical procedure to remove excessive joint lining (synovium).
- Synovial chondromatosis search for term
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Synovial chondromatosis is a rare disease where the joint lining (synovium) proliferates and produces loose bits of cartilage that can float around in the joint.
- Synovial fluid search for term
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Synovial fluid is the fluid washing the inside of the joint, secreted by the synovium - the cells of the joint lining.
- Synovial joint search for term
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Synovial joints are movable joints that contain a lubricating fluid called synovial fluid and have articular cartilage to keep the ends of the moving bones separate from each other.
- Synovial membrane search for term
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The synovial membrane is the thin cell lining around the inside of lubricated joints.
- Synovial plica search for term
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A synovial plica is an infold of the joint lining or synovium - it is a normal anatomical structure but can sometimes become problematic.
- Synovitis search for term
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Synovitis is inflammation of the joint lining (synovium).
- Synovium search for term
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The synovium is the cell layer that constitutes the inner lining of the knee joint and other joints.
- Synthetic graft search for term
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A synthetic graft is a graft using artificial materials, eg Gore-Tex for cruciate ligament reconstruction.
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