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Minerva Brace

August 14, 2010 By Dr Arun Pal Singh Leave a Comment

Minerva Brace

Image Credit: mattle.ch/upload/Minerva.jpg

The Minerva brace is a cervical and upper thoracic orthosis. It provides good orthotic control of the neck. There are many instances where Minerva brce can be used. For example severe whiplash injury or fracture of the vertebra or lower cervical fusion.

The Minerva orthosis has a rigid plastic posterior section that goes from the base of the skull down to the midtrunk. There is a solid chest piece in the front that is attached to the back along the sides with Velcro straps that can be adjusted.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Filed Under: Cervical Spine, Definitions, I-M, Traction-Aids-Appliances Tagged With: cervicothoracic orthoses, Minerva brace, rigid cervical immobilisation

Lumbar Puncture

April 11, 2010 By Dr Arun Pal Singh Leave a Comment

Also known as Spinal Tap.

A lumbar puncture is procedure that is performed in order to collect a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for biochemical, microbiological, and cytological analysis.

Very rarely it is also done as treatment to relieve increased intracranial pressure.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Filed Under: Definitions, I-M Tagged With: lumbar puncture, spinal tap

Metatarsal

March 31, 2010 By Dr Arun Pal Singh Leave a Comment

The metatarsus or metatarsal bones are of five long bones in the foot located between the tarsal bones and the phalanges of the toes. The metatarsal bones are numbered from the medial side (side of big toe): the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth metatarsal.

The metatarsals are analogous to the metacarpal bones of the hand.

Like metacarpals, they are dorsally convex long bones consisting of a shaft or body, a base, and a head.

The base of each metatarsal bone articulates with one or more of the tarsal bones at the tarsometatarsal joints [Lisfranc Joint]. Their bases also articulates with each others at the intermetatarsal joints.

  • The first metatarsal articulates with the medial cuneiform, and to a small extent to the intermediate cuneiform.
  • Second metatarsal articulates with all three cuneiforms.
  • Third metatrsal with lateral cuneiform.
  • Fourth metatarsal articulates with the lateral cuneiform and the cuboid.
  • Fifth metacarpal articulates with the cuboid.

The head articulates with one of the first proximal  phalanx at the metatarsophalangeal joints.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Filed Under: Definitions, I-M Tagged With: metatarsal, metatarsal bones, metatarsus

Metacarpal

March 30, 2010 By Dr Arun Pal Singh 1 Comment

Metacarpus is the region of  the hand skeleton  located between the phalanges (bones of the fingers) distally and the carpus. It consists of  five metacarpal bones.Its foot equivalent is the metatarsus.

Together five metacarpals form a transverse arch to which the rigid row of distal carpal bones are fixed. Beginning from lateral side {Thumb articulates with first}, the metacarpals are numbered from 1 to 5.

A metacarpal has three parts

  • The body  is prismoid in form, and curved, so as to be convex in the longitudinal direction behind, concave in front.
  • The base or carpal extremity articulates with the carpusand with the adjoining metacarpal bones
  • The head or digital extremity articulates with the proximal phalanx.

Metacarpals and Phalanges

Each metacarpal articulates with the proximal phalanx of corresponding digit. On carpal side the articulations are as follows

  • The first metacarpal articulates with the trapezium
  • The second metacarpal articulates with the trapezium, trapezoid, capitate and third metacarpal
  • Third metacarpal articulates with the capitate and second and fourth metacarpals
  • Fourth metacarpal articulates with the capitate, hamate, and third and fifth metacarpals
  • Fifth metacarpal articulates with the hamate and fourth metacarpal.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Filed Under: Definitions, I-M Tagged With: metacarpal, metacarpal bones, metacarpals, metacarpus

Lunate

March 5, 2010 By Dr Arun Pal Singh 2 Comments

The lunate bone  or semilunar bone is a carpal bone situated in the center of the proximal row of the carpus (wrist).  {See diagram below}

Lunate is situated between the lateral scaphoid bone and medial triquetral bone. .

The name derives from the Latin luna which means “moon”, the lunate bone looks semi-similar to a crescent moon.

Carpal Bones - Distal and Proximal Rows Proximal: A=Scaphoid, B=Lunate, C=Triquetral, D=Pisiform Distal: E=Trapezium, F=Trapezoid, G=Capitate, H=Hamate

The superior surface, convex and smooth, articulates with the radius.

The inferior surface is deeply concave and  articulates with the head of the capitate, and, by a long, narrow facet with the hamate.

l

Left Lunate Bone

The dorsal and palmar surfaces are rough, for the attachment of ligaments.

The lateral surface articulates with the scaphoid.

The medial surface is marked by a smooth, quadrilateral facet, for articulation with the triangular bone (triquetral).

Popularity: 2% [?]

Filed Under: Definitions, I-M Tagged With: carpal bones, lunate, lunate bone

Intervertebral Disc

March 3, 2010 By Dr Arun Pal Singh 3 Comments

Intervertebral discs is fibrocartilage that lies  between  two adjacent vertebrae in the spine. Each disc forms a cartilaginous joint to allow slight movement of the vertebrae, and acts as a ligament to hold the vertebrae together.

Discs consist of an outer annulus fibrosus, which surrounds the inner nucleus pulposus.

Intervertebral Disc Is Fibrocartilage Between Two Adjacent Vertebrae

There  are a total of twenty-three discs in the spine. They are identified by specifying the particular vertebrae they separate. For example, the disc between the fifth and sixth cervical vertabrae is designated as C5-6 disc.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Filed Under: Definitions, I-M Tagged With: disc, disc herniation, intervertebral disc

Laminoplasty

March 1, 2010 By Dr Arun Pal Singh Leave a Comment

Laminoplasty is a surgical procedure that involves the cutting of the lamina on one side and cutting a groove on the other side of the affected vertebrae and then “swinging” the freed flap of bone by hinging over the grooved part.

This procedure is done to relieve spinal stenosis of cervical spine.

The bone flap can either be fixed with implants or held with sutures, depending upon the technique and surgical preference.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Filed Under: Definitions, I-M Tagged With: cervical spine stenosis, cervical spine surgery, laminoplasty

Laminotomy

February 28, 2010 By Dr Arun Pal Singh 1 Comment

A laminotomy is a neurosurgical  procedure that removes part of a lamina of the vertebral arch in order to decompress the corresponding spinal cord and/or spinal nerve root.

Complete removal of lamina is called laminectomy.

Laminotomy is also often accompanied by facetectomy.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Filed Under: Definitions, I-M Tagged With: laminectomy, Laminotomy, spinal decompression

Intervertebral Foramen

February 4, 2010 By Dr Arun Pal Singh Leave a Comment

Between every pair of vertebræ are two apertures, the intervertebral foramina.

The foramen allows for the passage of the spinal nerve root, dorsal root ganglion, the spinal artery of the segmental artery, communicating veins between the internal and external plexuses, recurrent meningeal  nerves, and transforaminal ligaments.

Their size is variable due to placement, pathology, spinal loading, and posture.

They can be occluded by arthritic degenerative changes and space-occupying lesions like tumors, metastases and spinal disc herniations.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Filed Under: Definitions, I-M Tagged With: intervertebral foramen, opening for spinal nerve

Motion Segment

January 23, 2010 By Dr Arun Pal Singh 2 Comments

A motion segment consists of two adjacent vertebrae, including the intervertebral disk between them, and the ligaments that bind them together.

Concept of motion segment is important in planning the fusion of the vertebrae.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Filed Under: Definitions, I-M, Spine Tagged With: motion segment, spine movements motion of the vertebrae, vertebral segments