ADL - Activities of daily living: eating, dressing, grooming, shaving, etc. Nurses, occupational and physical therapists are the main coaches for ADL, which is sometimes called DLS or daily living skills.
ASIA Score - A measure of function after spinal cord injury, used by physicians. “A” means complete injury; “E” means full recovery.
Atelectasis - Loss of breathing function characterized by collapsed lung tissue.
Autonomic Dysreflexia - An abnormal response to a problem in the body below a spinal cord injury. It is most likely to happen if the SCI is at or above the 6th thoracic vertebra (T-6). For more information, visit https://umshp.org/hp/resources/sci/columns/docauto.htm
Bowel Program - The establishment of a “habit program” or a specific time to empty the bowel - also known as “dil” - so that regularity can be achieved.
Brown-Sequard Syndrome - An incomplete spinal cord injury where half of the cord has been damaged.
Calculi - Stones that may form in either kidney or bladder.
Catheter - A flexible rubber or plastic tube for withdrawing or introducing fluids into a cavity of the body, usually the bladder.
Cervical - The upper spine (neck) area of the vertebral column. Cervical injuries often result in quadriplegia (tetraplegia).
Contracture - The stiffening of a body joint to the point that it can no longer be moved through its normal range.
Condom Catheter - External urine collection device used by males. (Also known as a Texas catheter)
Crede - A technique of pressing down and inward over the bladder to facilitate voiding. Pronounced “cruh-day.”
Cyst - (post traumatic cystic myelopathy) A collection of fluid within the spinal cord, which may increase pressure and lead to increased neurological deterioration, loss of sensation, pain, and dysreflexia.
Decubitus Ulcer - See pressure sore.
Demyelination - The loss of nerve fiber “insulation” due to trauma or disease, which reduces the ability of nerves to conduct impulses (as in multiple sclerosis and some kind of SCI).
Dermatome - A map that shows typical function for various levels of spinal cord injury.
DLS - (Daily Living Skills) See ADL.
Dysphagia - Difficulty in swallowing.
Edema - Swelling; most commonly present in legs and feet. Edema occurs when the body tissues contain an excessive amount of fluid (plasma), increasing skin sensitivity and risk of pressure sores.
Egg-crate Mattress - Foam mattress, resembling egg cartons, that helps distribute pressure and prevent pressure sores.
Electromyogram - (EMG) A test that records the responses of muscles to electrical stimulation.
Exacerbation - A recurrence or worsening of symptoms.
Foley Catheter - A rubber tube placed in the urethra, extending to the bladder, in order to empty the bladder. It is held in place with a small fluid-filled balloon.
Halo Traction - The process of immobilizing the upper body and cervical spine with a traction device. The device consists of a metal ring around the head, held in place with pins into the skull. A supporting frame is attached to the ring and to a body jacket or vest to provide immobilization.
Hemiparesis - Partial paralysis of loss of movement on one side of the body.
Heterotopic Ossification - (HO) The formation of new bone deposits in the connective tissue surrounding the major joints, primarily the hip and knee.
Hydronephrosis - A kidney distended with urine to the point that its function is impaired. Can cause uremia, the toxic retention of blood nitrogen.
Hyperreflexia - See autonomic dysreflexia.
Incomplete Injury - Some sensation or motor control preserved below spinal cord lesion.
Incontinence - Lack of bowel and/or bladder control.
Indwelling Catheter - A flexible tube retained in the bladder, used for continuous urinary draining to a leg bag or other device.
Intermittent Catheterization - (ICP) Using a catheter for emptying the bladder on a regular schedule. See self-catheterization.
Intrathecal Baclofen - Administration of the anti-spasm drug Baclofen directly to the spinal cord by way of a surgically implanted pump.
Ischemia - A reduction of blood flow that is thought to be a major cause of secondary injury to the brain or spinal cord after trauma.
Laminectomy - An operation used to relieve pressure on the spinal cord, or used to examine the extent of damage to the cord.
Late Anterior Decompression - Surgical procedure to reduce pressure on the spinal cord by removing bone fragments.
Leg Bag - External bag which is strapped to the leg for the collection of urine.
Log Roll - Method of turning a patient without twisting the spine, used when a person’s spine is unstable.
Lower Motor Neurons - These nerve fibers originate in the spinal cord and travel out of the central nervous system to muscles in the body. An injury to these nerve cells can destroy reflexes and may also affect bowel, bladder and sexual function.
Lower Motor Neuron Lesion - Any damage to the lower motor neuron or its axon (peripheral nerve) that separates the lower motor neuron from control of its muscle fibers. This type of lesion leads to flaccidity and muscle atrophy.
Neurogenic Bladder - Any bladder disturbance due to an injury of the nervous system.
Neurological Level - The lowest segment of the spinal cord with normal sensory and motor function on both sides of the body.
Neurolysis - Destruction of peripheral nerves by radio frequency, heat, cutting or by chemical injection. Used to treat spasticity.
Occupational Therapist - (OT) The member of the rehabilitation team who helps maximize a person’s independence.
Osteoporosis - Loss of bone density, common in immobile bones after SCI.
Ostomy - An opening in the skin to allow for a suprapubic cystostomy (catheter drainage), for elimination of intestinal contents (colostomy or ileostomy) or for passage of air (tracheostomy).
Paraplegia - Loss of function below the cervical spinal cord segments, wherein the upper body retains most function and sensation.
Percussion - Forceful tapping on congested parts of the chest to facilitate postural drainage in persons with people with high-level tetraplegia.
Phrenic Nerve Stimulation - Electrical stimulation of the nerve that fires the diaphragm muscle, facilitating breathing in people with injury at C1 or C2 level.
Physiatrist - A doctor whose specialty is physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Physical Therapist - (PT) A key member of the rehabilitation team.
Postural Drainage - Using gravity to help clear the lungs of mucus by positioning the head lower than chest.
Postural Hypotension - The reduction of blood pressure resulting in light-headedness.
Pressure Release - Relieving pressure from the ischial tuberosities (bones on which we sit) every 15 minutes in order to prevent pressure sores.
Pressure Sore - Also known as decubitus ulcer. A potentially dangerous skin breakdown due to pressure on skin resulting in infection, tissue death.
Quad Cough - A method of helping a patient with tetraplegia cough by applying external pressure to diaphragm, thus increasing the force and clearing the respiratory tract.
Quadraparesis - Partial loss of function all four (4) extremities of the body.
Quadriplegia - Loss of function of any injured or diseased cervical spinal cord segment, affecting all four body limbs. Outside the U.S. the term tetraplegia is used (which is etymologically more accurate, combining tetra+plegia, both from the Greek, rather than quadri+plegia, a Latin/Greek amalgam).
Range of Motion - (ROM) The normal range of movement of any body joint. Range of Motion also refers to exercises designed to maintain this range and prevent contractures.
Rehabilitation - Retraining to normal functionality or training for new functionality.
Skeletal Level - The level at which, by radiographic examination, the greatest vertebral damage is found.
Spasticity - Hyperactive muscles that move or jerk involuntarily.
Sphincterotomy - The cutting of the bladder sphincter muscle to eliminate spasticity and related voiding problems.
Suctioning - Removal of mucus and secretions from lungs. It is important for people with high-level tetraplegia who lack ability to cough.
Suprapubic Catheter - A catheter surgically inserted into the bladder by incision above the pubis.
Thrombophlebitis - A clot in a vein due to diminished blood flow which can occur in a paralyzed leg. Symptoms include swelling and redness.
Tracheostomy - Opening in windpipe to facilitate breathing.
Urinary Tract Infection - (UTI) Bacterial invasion of the urinary tract, which includes bladder, bladder neck and urethra. Symptoms of UTI include fever and urine that is cloudy, contains sediment and smells foul. UTI involving the kidneys is preventable but dangerous. Medications often prescribed for UTI include Keflex, Macrodantin, Furadantin, Septra, Bactim, Mandelamine, penicillin, and amoxicillin. Side effects vary, and may include nausea and vomiting, skin rash or hives.
Ventilator - Mechanical device to facilitate breathing in persons with impaired diaphragm function.
Weaning - Gradual removal of mechanical ventilation, as patient’s lung strength and vital capacity increases.
Portions of this glossary were obtained from http://members.tripod.com/~cripkorner/glossary.html