Spinal Surgery Glossary

Analgesic
A drug that alleviates pain without causing loss of consciousness.

Anesthesia
A drug that blocks pain impulses from nerves. With general anesthesia you are unconscious, or asleep. With conscious sedation, your tissues are ‘numbed’ with local anesthesia and you are heavily sedated.

Anterior Cervical Discectomy (ACD)
For extensive osteophytes (bone spurs) with or without disc protrusions, this operation is reserved for only those patients that have large bone spurs and no x-ray evidence of instability.

Anterior Cervical Fusion (ACF)
For an unstable cervical spine, this operation should be reserved only for those patients who have documented evidence of instability, ie., spondylolisthesis or subluxations, documented by flexion-extension x-rays or other radiologic studies.

Annulus
An annulus is the outer portion of a disc in the spinal column, which provides structure and strength to a disc. The annulus is comprised of a complex series of interwoven layers of fibrous tissues which hold the nucleus in place.

Artifact
An abnormality in an image resulting in distortion and interference.

CAT Scan
A computerized x-ray which provides cross-sectional images of the spine. Sometimes this procedure follows a myelogram or discogram.

Cauda equina syndrome
The cauda equina is a bundle of nerves at the bottom of the spinal cord. Cauda equina syndrome is severe compression of the cauda equina resulting in loss of bowel or bladder function, loss of sensation in the buttocks and groin, and weakness in the legs.

Cervical
Pertaining to the neck.

Cervical Endoscopic Discectomy (CED)
For cervical herniated/protruded disc problems, CED is an outpatient surgical procedure to remove herniated disc material.

Cervical Endoscopic Discectomy/Anterior Cervical Discectomy for multilevel disc protrusions and bone spurs (CED/ACD)
This procedure is for patients with disc protrusions and bone spurs at multiple levels. Please see the CED and ACD descriptions for further information.

Conservative Therapy
A method of relieving pain, consisting of bed rest, analgesics, chiropractic and/or physical the rapy.

Corticosteroid
A medicine that reduces swelling, or inflammation.

Degenerative
Undergoing degeneration: growing less healthy over time.

Disc
Discs are the structures which serve as shock absorbers between the vertebrae of the spinal column. The center of the disc is called the nucleus, and the outer ring of the disc is called the annulus.

Discogram
A procedure in which an iodine "dye" is injected into a disc, x-rays are taken, and the patient's pain response is monitored. This is performed using conscious sedation and local anesthesia.

Extension
Bending backward, standing upright.

Facet
Surfaces where two vertebrae meet and articulate (move) forming a joint.

Facetectomy
An operation to remove part of the facet. To prevent a degenerated facet from pinching a nerve.

Flexion
Bending forward, or sitting.

Foramen
A natural opening or passage in bone for nerves and blood vessels.

Foraminotomy
An operation to make the foramen larger. To provide more space for the nerves and blood vessels.

Fusion
The growing of bone where bone does not normally exist, ie., replacing a disc with a bone graft. The graft is normally taken from the patient or a donor.

Herniated Disc Click Here for Illustration
Sometimes referred to as a slipped disc. The condition in which nuclear tissue is forced from the center of a disc into the spinal canal. Herniated discs cause pain in the low back and leg or the neck and arm because they create pressure against one or more of the spinal nerves. Other names for herniated discs are prolapsed and ruptured.

Interspinous Ligament
Spinal ligament that extends from one spinous process to the other.

Interspinous Process Decompression (IPD^®)
An operation in which an implant, called the X-STOP, is placed between your spinous processes.

Interspinous Space
The space between the spinous processes of the vertebrae.

Intervertebral Disc
Tissue found between the bones of the spinal column, called vertebrae. The discs help cushion the spine from stress during everyday activities (i.e., walking, bending, sitting, etc.).

Lamina
A part of a vertebra. For each vertebra, two lamina connect the pedicles to the spinous processes — forming the roof of the spinal canal.

Laminectomy
A surgical technique in which a portion of the back of the vertebra is removed in order to gain access to the nerves and discs. The disc may or may not be removed as part of the procedure.

Laminotomy
An operation to remove part of the lamina. This is done to allow more room for the spinal cord and nerves.

Ligaments
A band of tissue linking two bones in a joint.

Lumbar
Pertaining to the low back.

Lumbar Endoscopic Discectomy (LED/TA)
An outpatient, minimally-invasive suction and shaver endoscopic procedure to remove the herniated portion of a desk. Afterward, the disc is heated to repair the annulus.

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
A degenerative spinal disease that causes narrowing of the spinal canal. This narrowing pinches the nerves and causes pain symptoms.

Microdiscectomy
A surgical technique for disc removal through a small opening using a microscope.

MRI Scan
A computerized magnet which provides cross-sectional images of the spine.

Myelogram
A diagnostic procedure in which an iodine "dye" is injected into the spinal canal and x-rays are taken.

Nerves
Fibers containing nerve cells that send messages between the spinal cord and the rest of the body.

Nerve Compression
Pressure on a nerve; may cause nerve damage and muscle weakness.

Nerve Root
The start of the nerve as it leaves the spinal cord (and passes through the foramen).

Nucleus
The nucleus is the center of a disc and is made of a soft, spongy material that accepts the shock of standing, walking, running, etc.

Osteophyte
A bony outgrowth on the edge of a vertebra, also known as a bone spur.

Pedicle
A part of a vertebra. It connects the lamina with the vertebral body.

Sacrum
The lower portion of the spinal column.

Sciatica
The lower back and leg pain caused by a herniated disc, etc.

Spinal Canal
The bony channel that contains the spinal cord.

Spinal Cord
A bundle of nerves that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body.

Spinous Process
A part of the vertebra. A spinous process protrudes from each vertebra. The spinous processes create the “bumps” you feel in the middle of your back.

Spinal Stenosis
Narrowing of the spinal canal.

Supraspinous Ligament
Spinal ligament that passes over and attaches to the tips of the spinous processes.

Spondylolisthesis
A condition in which one vertebra slips forward in relation to the vetebra below it.

Vertebra
A bony building block of the spinal column.

X-ray
A test that uses radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body.

X-STOP^®
A titanium implant that fits between the spinous processes.