Glossary

Here are definitions of medical terms related to hip replacement:

acetabulum: The cup-shaped cavity or socket at the base of the hipbone where the ball-shaped head of the femur fits.

ambulating: To walk from place to place; move about.

arthrodesis: The surgical immobilization of a joint so that the bones grow solidly together.

arthroplasty: An artificial joint or implant.

articular cartilage: Cartilage covering and protecting surfaces of bones or of a joint or joints

autoimmune disease: Relating to or caused by antiboides or T cells that attack molecules, cells, or tissues of the organism producing them.

avascular necrosis: Tissue death resulting from a lack of blood supply to the area.

benign bone: Bone tissue being of no danger to health; not recurrent or progressive; not malignant.

deep venous thrombosis (DVT): An abnormal vascular condition where a formation, presence, or development of a blood clot occurs within a vein.

electrical stimulation: A modality or form of treatment used in physical therapy utilizing various frequencies and wave forms of electrical current having therapeutic effects on the nervous and musculolskeletal system.

electrocardiogram: (ECG or EKG), a measurement of the electrical activity of the heart which is obtained by attaching electrodes to the body. The ECG can detect an abnormal heart rhythm or other abnormality.

femur: The longest and largest bone in the human body, extends from the hip to the knee.

joint aspiration: The process of removing fluids from within a joint with a suction device such as a sterile needle and syringes.

malignant bone: Bone tissue that is threatening to life; such as in a malignant disease and has the potential and tendency to metastasize.

osseointegration: Process in which a surface of a material is prepared and attracts bone growth. Also referred to as called porous ingrowth.

osteotomy: Surgical procedure where there is a separation or sectioning of bone.

osteonecrosis: Death of bone tissue.

Piaget's Disease: A chronic disease of bones characterized by their great enlargement and becoming thin, porous, or less dense.

pelvis: A basin-shaped structure composed of two large bones on the sides which rests on the lower limbs and supports the spinal column.

prosthesis: An artificial device used to replace a missing body part, such as a limb, a tooth, an eye, or a heart valve.

synovial membrane: Part of a sac surrounding the cavity of a freely movable joint; the dense connective tissue membrane secretes synovia, a joint lubricating fluid.

ultrasound: Sound waves at a very high frequency of over 20,000 vibrations per second. Ultrasound has many medical applications, including increasing soft tissue temperature with associated increased circulation.