Osteoporotic Compression Fractures: Medical Terminology Challenge
Medical Terminology Challenge
Question:
A 75-year-old female patient has had multiple vertebral fractures due to her osteoporosis. The decision is made to have a minimally invasive procedure performed through a small incision in the skin. Surgical cement is injected to stabilize the compressed vertebrae to treat the pain. Based on your knowledge of medical terminology, what type of skeletal procedure is this?
A. Spinal fusion
B. Laminectomy
C. Percutaneous vertebroplasty
D. Percutaneous diskectomy
Answer:
C. Percutaneous vertebroplasty
Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a procedure performed on the spine to treat osteoporosis-related compression fractures. It is a minimally invasive procedure that involves injecting bone cement into the affected vertebrae to stabilize compression fractures within the spinal column and to relieve pain and disability, according to Medscape.
Percutaneous means performed through the skin; vertebr/o means vertebra; -plasty means surgical repair.
A, B, and D are incorrect.
A. Spinal fusion. A spinal fusion is a procedure performed to permanently connect two or more vertebrae in the spine, so there is no motion between them. According to MayoClinic, spinal fusion may be performed to treat spine deformities, spinal weakness, instability, or herniated disks.
Spinal relates to the spine; fusion means to join together, or fuse. Nothing in the documentation indicates two or more vertebrae in the spine were fused or joined together.
B. Laminectomy. A laminectomy is a procedure performed to remove part or all of the vertebral bone (lamina). According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, a laminectomy relieves pressure on the spinal cord or the spinal cord or nerve roots that may be a result of injury, herniated disk, narrowing of the canal, or tumors.
Lamin means lamina; -ectomy means surgical removal. Nothing in the documentation indicates that part or all of the lamina was removed.
D. Percutaneous diskectomy. A percutaneous diskectomy (or discectomy) is a minimally invasive procedure performed to remove part of a herniated intervertebral disc that is irritating a nerve and causing pain. According to the National Spine & Pain Centers, a small needle is inserted through the skin of the back with the guidance of fluoroscopy (live x-ray), and a probe is inserted through the needle. The probe removes portions of the disc nucleus, allowing the disc to reabsorb the herniation and relieve pressure on the nerve.
Percutaneous means performed through the skin; disk refers to an intervertebral disk in the spinal column; -ectomy means surgical removal. A disk was not removed, according to the documentation.