Glossary

Here are definitions of medical terms related to knee replacement:

ambulating: To walk from place to place; move about

arthroplasty: An artificial joint or implant

articular cartilage: The smooth lining that covers and protects the bone ends inside a joint

avascular necrosis: Tissue death resulting from inadequate blood supply to the affected part of a bone

continuous passive motion: If a joint is moved continuously, either by another person bending it or by a machine. The continuous passive motion (CPM) machine produces continuous passive motion by slowly and gently bending and straightening the knee without the assistance of the individual.

deep venous thrombosis (DVT): formation of blood clots in the deep veins usually of the leg or pelvis

electrical stimulation: 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

electrocardiography: A procedure in which a the electrical activity of the heart is recorded

meniscus: A cartilage disk that acts as a cushion or shock absorber between the ends of bones in certain joints. In the knee the disc on the inner side of the knee is called the medial meniscus, and the disc on the outer side is called the lateral meniscus.

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

ultrasound: Sound waves at a very high frequency of over 20,000 vibrations per second. Ultrasound has many medical applications, including raising the temperature of the soft tissues and increasing the circulation into that area.