Medical dictionary

What are spider veins (thread veins)? Spider veins, also known as thread veins, are milder versions of varicose veins and are smaller, red and blue blood vessels that are visible on the surface of the skin. Their appearance resembles a spider’s web or tree branches. You will usually have them on your legs and face and they are more common in women than in men. A vascular surgeon,

What is spina bifida?   Spina bifida is a brain birth defect of the spine or spinal cord caused by a defect of the neural tube (the embryonic structure that becomes the foetal brain and spinal cord as well as in the tissues that contain them).   It tends to start in the first month of pregnancy in cases where the spinal cord doesn’t close properly. The neural tube tends t

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 a spinal cord stimulator? A spinal cord stimulator is an implanted device that sends low levels of electricity directly into the spinal cord to relieve pain. It is used to relieve chronic pain when nonsurgical pain treatment has failed to provide relief.   Spinal cord stimulators consist of thin wires (electrodes) and a small pacemaker-like battery (generator). The electr

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