At South Texas Spinal Clinic, we believe knowledge is a powerful part of healing. Our Patient Education Center is designed to give you access to reliable information about conditions, treatments, and recovery options—so you can make informed decisions about your care with confidence.
Whether you’re preparing for a procedure, recovering from an injury, or exploring ways to stay active and healthy, our resources provide clear guidance on diagnoses, treatment options, and recovery strategies—helping you make confident, informed decisions about your care.
Our patient education videos are designed to help you better understand your condition, treatment options, and recovery process. These short, easy-to-follow videos cover a wide range of topics to help you gain the knowledge and confidence to take an active role in your care.
Stay up to date with the latest news, insights, and tips on bone, joint, and spine health from our team of experts.
Today, we come together to honor the remarkable contributions of Dr. Dianne Lou, a distinguished leader and innovator at South Texas Spinal Clinic in San Antonio, Texas. Her dedication to research, education, and mentorship has left an… Read More
Sterile bone derived from another human used in grafting procedures.
The outer, fibrous, ring-like portion of an intervertebral disc.
The front portion of the body, often used to describe the position of one structure relative to another.
Situated or occurring in front of and to the side.
Inflammation of a joint characterized by swelling, pain, and restricted motion.
The fusion of bones across a joint space, limiting or eliminating movement, either spontaneously or through surgical procedures like spine fusion.
Any disease or disorder involving a joint.
The surgical remodeling of a diseased or damaged joint.
An instrument inserted into a joint cavity to view the interior and correct abnormalities, functioning as an endoscope.
The procedure of visualizing the inside of a joint using an arthroscope.
Pertaining to a joint.
Bone originating from the same individual.
Bone transplanted from one part to another within the same individual.
Synonymous with the spine.
A substance, like certain plastics, that the human body can break down and absorb.
A characteristic of some materials that, when inserted into the body, does not produce a significant rejection or immune response.
The breakdown of organic materials into simple chemicals commonly found in the body.
Hard tissue providing structural support, primarily composed of hydroxyapatite crystals and collagen.
Substances extracted from bone, such as bone morphogenic proteins (BMP).
Bone harvested from one location and placed in another individual (allograft bone) or in a different location within the same individual (autogenous bone).
Tissue within the internal cavities of bones, responsible for producing red blood cells.
A thin metal device affixed to bone with screws to immobilize bone fragments.
A threaded metal device inserted into bone to immobilize fragments or affix other medical devices.
A deceased human body preserved for anatomical study.
Spongy bone found at the ends of long bones.
Hard, thin tissue covering the ends of bones at a joint, allowing motion with minimal friction.
The body of a vertebra.
The neck region of the spine, containing the first seven vertebrae.
A treatment injecting chymopapain to dissolve part of an intervertebral disc.
Controlled evaluations involving patients, often required by the FDA before releasing a medical device or compound.
An alloy used in surgical implants, including cobalt, chromium, and molybdenum.
The tailbone, the region below the sacrum.
A fibrous protein found in connective tissue, such as skin, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bones.
A fracture where bone breaks into more than two pieces.
Dense bone forming the outer surface.
Bone tissue depleted of minerals, such as calcium and phosphorous.
The elastic structure between spinal vertebrae, comprising an outer annulus fibrosus and inner nucleus pulposus.
The loss of structural and functional integrity of the intervertebral disc.
Surgical removal of part or all of an intervertebral disc.
Situated away from the center of the body.
Arising within or derived from the body.
A medical device for viewing internal body structures, often comprised of fiber optic tubes and video display instruments.
Inspection of internal body structures or cavities using an endoscope.
Situated outside the dural membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Removal by cutting away material.
Originating outside the body.
A posterior structure of a vertebra articulating with an adjacent vertebra to form a facet joint.
Excision of a facet.
A fracture resulting from repeated stress rather than a single injury.
The replacement of normal tissue with scar tissue.
A federal agency regulating drugs, medical devices, and foods.
A natural opening or passage in bone.
A disruption in the normal continuity of bone.
Union or healing of bone, often through surgical procedures like arthrodesis.
Extrusion of part of the nucleus pulposus through a defect in the annulus fibrosus.
The occurrence of bone growth in an abnormal location.
In spinal applications, a metallic device connecting spinal structures to a rod.
The lattice-like structure of bone composed of calcium and phosphorous crystals.
A part of the pelvic bone often used for autogenous bone grafts.
The large portion of the pelvic bone at the belt line.
Limitation of motion or fixation of a body part to promote healing.
Describing biological phenomena occurring outside the living body, traditionally in a test tube.
Within a living body.
Situated below or directed downward.
Consent from a patient with sufficient information for surgery, medication, or participation in a clinical study.
A committee reviewing and approving research projects in an institution.
Immobilization of bone fragments or joints with implants to promote healing.
See Disc (Intervertebral).
FDA status permitting the use of an unapproved medical device for collecting clinical data.
The junction of two or more bones allowing varying degrees of motion.
An abnormal increase in the normal kyphotic curvature of the thoracic spine.
An anatomical portion of a vertebra connecting the pedicles to the spinous process.
Removal of part or all of the lamina of a vertebra, often to remove an intervertebral disc protrusion or decompress a nerve root.
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, used in surgery to operate on small areas.
Situated away from the midline of the body.
A fibrous band of tissue connecting bone to bone.
An abnormal increase in the normal lordotic curvature of the lumbar spine.
A non-medical term for pain in the lumbar region.
The lower part of the spine between the thoracic region and the sacrum.
Situated closer to the midline of the body.
Required reporting of medical device complaints involving death, serious injury, or device malfunction.
Surgery requiring small incisions, usually performed with endoscopic visualization.
The portion of a spinal nerve near its origin from the spinal cord.
The bony arch of the posterior aspect of a vertebra surrounding the spinal cord.
The surgical specialty treating disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.
Failure of fractured bone fragments to heal or achieve bony fusion.
The semi-gelatinous tissue in the center of an intervertebral disc.
Devices used to replace or provide fixation of bone or articular surfaces of a joint, helping to restore mobility, stability, and function after injury, disease, or deformity.
The medical specialty preserving and restoring musculoskeletal system function.
The process of forming bone in the body.
A disorder characterized by abnormally brittle and less dense bone, resulting from various diseases and abnormalities.
The study of disease states.
The part of each side of the neural arch of a vertebra connecting the lamina with the vertebral body.
A fibrous membrane covering bone surfaces, except at joint ends where cartilage is present.
Treatment involving specific body part exercises to strengthen, regain range of motion, and rehabilitate the musculoskeletal system.
The science of the functioning of living organisms and their component systems or parts.
Located behind a structure, referring to the back side of the human body.
Instruments powered by compressed air or electricity used in surgery to cut, drill, or remove bone and cartilage.
Tests occurring before clinical studies, often in vitro or in vivo involving animals, to determine safety and efficacy of test materials.
A regulatory method for FDA clearance of Class III medical devices, requiring submission of safety and effectiveness information.
A regulatory method for FDA clearance to market a device, comparing it to a commercially available device before May 28, 1976.
An artificial body part, like an artificial leg or arm, and can also refer to some body implants such as hip or knee replacements.
Nearest the center of the body.
A form of non-union where a false joint forms with cartilage covering bone ends and a cavity containing fluid, resembling a normal joint.
Surgical removal of part of a structure, such as bone.
The removal of bone tissue, either as a normal physiological process or as part of a pathological process like infection.
In spinal applications, a slender metal implant used to immobilize and align the spine.
See Herniated Disc.
Part of the spine and pelvis, articulating with the ilia at sacroiliac joints and lumbar spine at the lumbosacral joint.
Lay term for pain along the course of the sciatic nerve, often felt in the back of the thigh and below the knee.
Lateral curvature of the spine.
Infection of tissue due to disease-producing bacteria or toxins.
The rigid framework of bones giving form to the body, protecting and supporting organs and tissues, and providing muscle attachments.
The bony channel formed by vertebrae intravertebral foramen, containing the spinal cord and nerve roots.
See Spine.
The longitudinal cord of nerve tissue enclosed in the spinal canal, serving as a pathway for nervous impulses to and from the brain.
See Disc (Intervertebral).
A surgical procedure permanently joining bone, interconnecting two or more vertebrae to prevent motion.
Reduction in the spinal canal diameter due to new bone formation, causing pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.
The flexible bone column extending from the skull base to the tailbone, made up of 33 vertebrae with intervertebral discs, ligaments, and muscles.
The posterior protruding portion of the vertebrae, creating the “bumps” felt on the midline of the back.
Inflammation of vertebrae.
A defect between superior and inferior facet bones causing vertebrae and the spine above it to displace forward relative to vertebrae below. Typically due to developmental defects or fractures.
Displacement of one vertebra over another with a fracture of a posterior portion, often due to developmental defects or fractures.
Iron-based metal containing chromium, highly resistant to stain, rust, and corrosion. Commonly used in surgical implants and instruments.
Free from living organisms.
A method rendering a material free from living organisms, such as steam, gas, or ionizing radiation.
Situated above or directed upward toward the head.
A fibrous band of tissue connecting muscle to bone, mainly composed of collagen.
The source of reimbursement or payment for medical services when patients don’t make direct payments, such as insurance companies, government agencies, or employers.
The chest level spine region between cervical and lumbar vertebrae, consisting of 12 vertebrae serving as rib attachment points.
A metallic element used to make surgical implants.
The study of the toxic or harmful effects of substances on the body.
The implantation of bone tissue from one part of the body to another or the transfer of an organ from one individual to another.
One of the 33 spinal column bones, with a cylindrical-shaped bony anterior and neural arch posterior. A cervical, thoracic, or lumbar vertebra has these structures, protecting the spinal cord. The plural is vertebrae.
Metal thread used in surgery to transfix fractured bone, available in various diameters and stiffness.
A graft derived from one species for use in another species.
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