| loop excision | A diagnostic and therapeutic gynecological surgical technique for removing dysplastic cells from the cervix. In this office procedure conducted with the aid of colposcopy, a small wire loop is used to excise visible patches of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Like cauterization, cryosurgery, and CO2 laser procedures, loop excision can be done with local anaesthetic, and is an uncomplicated, relatively inexpensive way of removing dysplastic cells; in addition, it provides material for biopsy. It is not advised for cases of severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ, which are better addressed by cervical conization, an inpatient procedure. Synonym: loop resection. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| loop of henle | A u-shaped turn in the medullary portion of a renal tubule, with a descending limb from the proximal convoluted tubule and an ascending limb to the distal convoluted tubule. (12 Dec 1998) |
| loop of hypoglossal nerve | A loop in the cervical plexus consisting of fibres from the first three cervical nerves. Fibres from a loop between the C-1 and C-2 spinal nerves accompany the hypoglossal nerve for a short distance, leaving it as the superior root of the ansa cervicalis. Fibres from a loop between the C-2 and C-3 spinal nerves form the inferior root of the ansa cervicalis. Most commonly, the roots merge, forming the ansa cervicalis, which gives rise to branches innervating infrahyoid muscles. Synonym: cervical loop, loop of hypoglossal nerve. (05 Mar 2000) |
| loop resection | A diagnostic and therapeutic gynecological surgical technique for removing dysplastic cells from the cervix. In this office procedure conducted with the aid of colposcopy, a small wire loop is used to excise visible patches of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Like cauterization, cryosurgery, and CO2 laser procedures, loop excision can be done with local anaesthetic, and is an uncomplicated, relatively inexpensive way of removing dysplastic cells; in addition, it provides material for biopsy. It is not advised for cases of severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ, which are better addressed by cervical conization, an inpatient procedure. Synonym: loop resection. (05 Mar 2000) |
| apophysial fracture | Separation of apophysis from bone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| articular fracture | A fracture involving the joint surface of a bone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| atlas fracture | <radiology> Incidence: 4% of cervical spine injuries, site: posterior arch, anterior arch, massa lateralis, Jefferson fracture associated with: fractures of C7 (25%), fractures of C2 pedicle (15%), extraspinal fractures (58%) (12 Dec 1998) |
| avulsion fracture | A fracture that occurs when a joint capsule, ligament, or muscle insertion of origin is pulled from the bone as a result of a sprain dislocation or strong contracture of the muscle against resistance; as the soft tissue is pulled away from the bone, a fragment or fragments of the bone may come away with it. (05 Mar 2000) |
| axis fracture | <radiology> Incidence: 6% of cervical spine injuries, associated with atlas fractures in 8%, hyperflexion injury: odontoid fracture, type I avulsion of tip of odontoid (5-8%) difficult to detect, type II fracture through base of dens (54-67%) complication: nonunion, type III subdental injury (30-33%) prognosis: good, Differential diagnosis: os odontoideum, ossiculum terminale, hypoplasia/aplasia of dens, hyperextension injury: hangman's fracture (12 Dec 1998) |
| barton fracture | <radiology> Intra-articular fracture of distal radius, dorsal displacement of separated fragment, due to fall on outstretched hand see: wrist fractures (12 Dec 1998) |
| Barton's fracture | Fracture of the distal radius with dislocation of the radiocarpal joint. (05 Mar 2000) |
| basal skull fracture | <orthopaedics> A fracture involving the base of the cranium. This fracture is often difficult to detect clinically. Findings may include raccoon eyes, Battle's sign, haemotympanum and cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea. Plain skull X-ray will often not reveal the basal skull fracture, making a CT scan or MRI the most reliable diagnostic investigation. (15 Nov 1997) |
| bending fracture | <orthopaedics, radiology> An injury in which a long bone or bones, usually the radius and ulna, are bent due to multiple microfractures, none of which can be seen by X-ray imaging. (14 Aug 2000) |
| bennett fracture | <radiology> Mechanism: forced abduction of thumb, findings: intraarticular fracture/dislocation of the base of the 1st metacarpal at the ulnar aspect, small fragment of metacarpal continues to articulate with the trapezium, lateral retraction of metacarpal shaft by abductor pollicis longus, difficult to keep in anatomical alignment, complication: pseudoarthrosis, better prognosis than Rolando fracture see: thumb fractures (12 Dec 1998) |
| Bennett's fracture | <orthopaedics> A fracture-dislocation of the first metacarpal bone (thumb) at the carpal metacarpal joint. (06 Aug 1998) |