Medical dictionary

What is a slipped disc? The spine or backbone is made up of segments of bone (vertebrae) separated with fibrocartilaginous discs, which provide flexibility and act as shock-absorbers. A slipped disc is when one of these soft cushions of tissue pushes outwards. They are often painful, due to the fact that the spinal cord (part of the central nervous system) passes through the middle of them.

What are soft tissue sarcomas? Soft tissue sarcomas are a type or group of very rare cancers that begin in the soft tissue which support and connect one's body structure. In what tissues are soft tissue sarcomas normally present? There are many tissues that can be affected by soft tissue sarcomas. The main ones include the following: muscles blood vesse

What are spinal tumours?   Spinal tumours are abnormal growth of cells on the vertebrae. Cancerous tumours of the spine are not very common, however, the spine does have other more frequent types of cancer that affect it. One in four cancer patients develop a tumour that metastises in the spine, which causes pain and possible functional injuries. Not all spinal tumours are cancerous.

What is the spine? Newborns’ spines have 33 bones, while adults, due to the sacral and coccygeal vertebrae fusion during development, have 26. The vertebrae protect the spinal cord and allow you to stand and bend.    Vertebrae are stacked on top of one another and are grouped into four regions: Cervical vertebrae (C1 - C7). The spine is subdivided into two parts:

What is spinal cord compression?   The spinal cord has nerves that send signals between the brain and the body. Spinal cord compression is when a mass puts pressure on the cord, this mass could either be a tumour or a bone. The spinal cord can become compressed anywhere from the cervical region of the spine (neck), all the way down to the lower spine (lumbar).    

What is spinal cord injury? A spinal cord injury is damage to any part of the nerves that make up the spinal cord or spinal canal. These nerves are essential for coordinating movement in your body and sending brain signals to your muscles when you want to move. A spinal cord injury is a serious a condition which can result in paralysis. The spine does not have to complete break for dama

What is spinal disc replacement surgery? A disc prosthesis, also known as spinal disc replacement surgery, is the replacement of an intervertebral disc for a device that is able to maintain mobility between both lumbar vertebrae, and is carried out by a specialist spinal surgeon or neurosurgeon. Disc replacement surgery mainly involves surgically replacing the intervertebral disc w

What's a spinal endoscopy? A spinal endoscopy is a treatment which is classified as a minimally invasive surgery. It allows surgeons to operate on:  herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and; other spinal conditions. A thin tube with a camera on the end is inserted so that the procedure can be done with minimal incisions. Thanks to the high resolution images the surgeon

What is spinal fusion?   Spinal fusion, also known as vertebral arthrodesis, is a surgical intervention that aims to fuse two vertebrae in the spine permanently, so that there is no movement between them.     Why is spinal fusion performed?   Spinal fusion is carried out to treat degenerative diseases of the spine, such as: spinal stenosis fract