Glossary of Pediatric Orthopaedic Terms

Here are some terms you may hear when discussing your child’s condition or injury:

• Anesthesia: Pain relief from medication that decreases feeling or awareness. This is often used during medical procedures. Local anesthetic is used to numb small areas. General anesthetic allows patients to sleep during procedures.

• Brachial plexus: A network of nerves in the neck and shoulder.

• Cartilage: Dense elastic tissue that helps cushion joints.

• Cast: A stiff material that molds to an area of the body. A cast holds an injured area still and protects it during the healing process.

• Closed fracture: A broken bone that does not come through the skin. This used to be called a “simple” fracture.

• Computed tomography (CT) scan: A scan using computers and x-rays to make cross-sectional images of areas inside the body.

• Congenital: A condition or disease that is present at birth.

• Contusion: Discoloration and swelling due to broken blood vessels following a blow to the skin. Also known as a “bruise.”

• Diaphysis: The middle section of a long bone. 

• Displaced fracture: Fracture in which the broken pieces of bone are not lined up.

• DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs): Medications used to treat certain autoimmune conditions or diseases. They also treat symptoms, such as inflammation. 

• Epiphysis: The end of a long bone. 

• Fixation (internal or external): A procedure during which bones are rejoined and stabilized using metal devices such as bars, pins, plates, screws, or wires. Internal fixation is completely inside the body. External fixation has one or more parts of the fixation device outside the skin.

• Fracture: A crack or break in a bone.

• Fracture callus: A bump (new bone) that forms around a bone fracture as it heals.

• Greenstick fracture: Fracture during which the bone bends, and doesn’t break all the way through.

• Growth plate: A soft part at the end of a bone that lets the bone grow as the child grows.

• Hairline fracture: Fracture in which the break line is very thin. The bones do not separate.

• Hip dysplasia: Congenital condition in which a weak hip joint causes the hip to move out of place. It is sometimes called “hip dislocation.”

• Leg-length discrepancy (LLD): When the legs are different lengths. The greater the difference in length, the more problems can result as the child grows.

• Ligament: Tough tissue that connects one bone to another.

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): A scan using magnets and radio waves to make images of tissues and structures inside the body.

• Metaphysis: The wide part just before the end of a long bone.

• Metatarsus adductus: Congenital foot deformity that causes the front of the foot to hook inward.

• Nondisplaced fracture: A bone break in which the ends of the fracture remain lined up.

• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs): Medications used to reduce pain and inflammation. They include ibuprofen and naproxen. NSAIDs can be over-the-counter or prescribed.

• Open fracture: Injury in which the bone breaks and comes through the skin. These used to be called “compound” fractures.

• Orthopaedist: Doctor who specializes in evaluating and treating problems with bones and related structures, such as joints, nerves, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Also called an orthopaedic surgeon.

• Pediatric orthopaedist: Doctor who specializes in orthopaedic medicine for children. Also called a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon.

• Physical therapy (PT): A program of therapy and exercises supervised by a rehabilitation specialist to help patients strengthen areas weakened by injury or disease. Special exercise equipment may be used.

• Range of motion (ROM): The amount of movement a joint allows.

• Reduction (closed or open): A procedure during which broken bones are moved back into place to heal. This is done from outside the body, without incisions (closed). Or, it is done through incisions (open).

• RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation): Initial treatment for certain injuries, such as strains and sprains, that helps relieve pain and swelling.

• Splint: Device used to stabilize and restrict movement of joints or bones to allow healing.

• Sprain: Injury to a ligament.

• Strain: Injury to a muscle or tendon.

• Tendon: Tough tissue that connects muscle to bone.

• Vertebra: One of the 33 bones that make up the spine.

• X-ray: A photographic image of structures (often bones) in the body made by using radiation.