Medical dictionary

What is laser disc surgery?   Laser disc surgery is a minimally invasive type of surgical technique that uses lasers to remove or shrink portions of soft tissue around the spine that may be pressing on or pinching nerves. The procedure is only appropriate for certain conditions and not recommended for degenerative spine diseases. It is not to be confused with MISS, which is a more tradi

What is the lateral collateral ligament? The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is one of the four major ligaments that support the knee joint. Joining the femur with the tibia, it goes from the top of the tibia to the lower section of the femur. Its function is to allow lateral mobility of the knee joint and keep the outer side of the joint stable. The most frequent injuries (tear and sprain

What is leg pain? Pain in the leg is common and normally disappears quickly, either in a matter of moments, days, weeks or months. However, serious cases of leg pain can consistently affect your quality of life such as the ability to walk or bear weight.   What are the causes of leg pain? Leg pain can occur as the result of many causes. For instance: Crepitus, which i

What is ligament reconstruction? Ligament reconstruction, also known as ligamentoplasty, is an endoscopic procedure for surgical tissue graft replacement of the anterior cruciate ligament, a ligament in the knee, often by grafting tissue harvested from your own body. Ensuring your knee is stabilised again The anterior cruciate ligament is located in the central part of your knee and it st

What is bone lengthening? Bone lengthening, also known as bone elongation, encompasses a series of surgical techniques whose objective is to increase the length of a bone segment. Why is it done? Bone lengthening is performed bilaterally in all cases of short stature and unilaterally, in cases of limb inequality. The aim is to ensure that the patient can have a normal gait when w

What are lipogems? Lipogems injections are a new generation of treatment for orthopaedic conditions, including joint pain, arthritis, rotator cuff injuries and more. Lipogems injections are a minimally-invasive treatment that can offer an alternative to surgery if deemed appropriate for your condition and injury. Lipogems are able to give support and cushioning to body tissue by using the

What is it? Lumbalgia, commonly known as low back pain, mainly affects the lower area of your back. It could be a symptom associated with several different conditions which can in turn arise from several different causes. There are three main types of lower back pain, based on how long it lasts: acute: lasting less than one month; subacute: lasting between one and three

What is a lumbar discectomy? Lumbar discectomy is a surgery that is performed when the patient has a herniated disc in the lumbar part of the spine. This causes back pain that spreads to the legs and causes severe muscle weakness. The surgical procedure can remove part or all of this pad to relieve the pain. A lumbar discectomy is typically done as a minimally invasive (keyh

What is a lumbar fusion? Lumbar fusion, also called spinal fusion, spondylodesis or spondylosyndesis, is a surgical procedure to permanently join two or more vertebrae in the spine to prevent movement between them.   Why is a lumbar fusion performed? This surgery is recommended for the treatment of fractures, instability due to degenerative disease, tumours and other ailments that