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Knee Replacement
Knee Replacement: Glossary
Here are definitions of medical terms related to knee replacement:
ambulating: To walk from place to place; move about
arthroplasty: An artificial joint or implant
articular cartilage: The smooth lining that covers and protects the bone ends inside a joint
avascular necrosis: Tissue death resulting from inadequate blood supply to the affected part of a bone
continuous passive motion: If a joint is moved continuously, either by another person bending it or by a machine. The continuous passive motion (CPM) machine produces continuous passive motion by slowly and gently bending and straightening the knee without the assistance of the individual.
deep venous thrombosis (DVT): formation of blood clots in the deep veins usually of the leg or pelvis
electrical stimulation: Form of treatment used in physical therapy utilizing various frequencies and wave forms of electrical current having therapeutic effects on the nervous and musculolskeletal system
electrocardiography: A procedure in which a the electrical activity of the heart is recorded
meniscus: A cartilage disk that acts as a cushion or shock absorber between the ends of bones in certain joints. In the knee the disc on the inner side of the knee is called the medial meniscus, and the disc on the outer side is called the lateral meniscus.
prosthesis: An artificial device used to replace a missing body part, such as a limb, a tooth, an eye, or a heart valve
ultrasound: Sound waves at a very high frequency of over 20,000 vibrations per second. Ultrasound has many medical applications, including raising the temperature of the soft tissues and increasing the circulation into that area.