Cast Care Glossary of Terms

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Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

Ankle: The ankle joint is complex. It is made up of two joints: the true ankle joint and ...

Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, w...

Calcium: A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is ...

Cartilage: Firm, rubbery tissue that cushions bones at joints. A flexible kind of cartilag...

Cast: 1) A protective shell of fiberglass, plastic, or plaster, and bandage that is molde...

Chemical reaction: A process in which one substance is transformed into another.

Compartment syndrome: A condition in which there is swelling and an increase in pressure w...

Complication: In medicine, an unanticipated problem that arises following, and is a result...

Compound fracture: A fracture in which a bone is sticking through the skin. Also known as ...

Cuts: Severed skin. Washing a cut or scrape with soap and water and keeping it clean and d...

Dextrose: Glucose, a simple sugar.

Elbow: The juncture of the long bones in the middle portion of the upper extremity. The bo...

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

Fracture: A break in bone or cartilage. Although usually a result of trauma, a fracture ca...

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

Joint: The area where two bones are attached for the purpose of permitting body parts to m...

Leg: In popular usage, the part of the body from the top of the thigh down to the foot, an...

Limb: An arm or a leg.

Microscopic: So small it cannot be seen without the aid of microscope. As opposed to macro...

Mold: One of a large group of fungi that can proliferate on food or in moist areas. Househ...

Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric...

Numb: Numb, or numbness is a loss of the sensation of feeling in an area of the body. Numb...

Open fracture: A fracture in which the bone is sticking through the skin. Also called a co...

Operating room: A facility that is equipped for performing surgery. Abbreviated OR.

Osteoporosis: Thinning of the bones, with reduction in bone mass, due to depletion of calc...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Pathologic: 1. Indicative of or caused by disease, as in a pathologic fracture, pat...

Pathologic fracture: A bone broken, not by trauma alone, but so weakened by disease as to ...

Pressure sore: A sore area of skin that develops when the blood supply to it is cut off fo...

Range of motion: The full movement potential of a joint, usually its range of flexion and ...

Sore: 1. (adjective) A popular term for painful, such as a sore throat. 2. (...

Sprain: An injury to a ligament that results from overuse or trauma. The treatment of a sp...

Stress: In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional fact...

Stress fracture: A fracture caused by repetitive stress, as may occur in sports, strenuous...

Sweating: The act of secreting fluid from the skin by the sweat (sudoriferous) glands. The...

Syndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process.

Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue. Tumors are a classic sign of inflammation, and can be ...

Wrist: The part of the hand that is nearest the forearm and consists of the carpal bones a...

X-ray: High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used...