Decompensation - in
scoliosis, this refers to loss of spinal balance when the thoracic
cage is not centered over the pelvis.
Decortication - Removal
of external or surface layer of bone to make it bleed.
Degenerative disc disease - Disorder in which disc degeneration produces clinical
symptoms and signs.
Dehiscence - A
disruption or separation of the ring from the annulus.
Dens - See
: Odontoïd process - part of the axis (C2).
Dessicating - damaging.
Diathesis - A
predisposition or unusual susceptibility to a disease.
Diathermy - Therapy
in which high-frequency currents produce heat in tissues to treat
certain conditions.
Disc - Soft
tissue acting as a shock absorber between the intervertebral
bodies.
Discectomy - removal
of all or part of an intervertebral disc (the soft tissue that
acts as a shock absorber between the vertebral bodies).
Disc degeneration - Loss of the structural and functional integrity
of the disc.
Discectomy - Surgical
removal of all or part of an intervertebral disc.
Discitis - Inflammatory
disorder of the intervertebral disc.
Distal - Remote
; far away from the center of the body.
Double curve - two
lateral curvatures (scoliosis) in the same spine. Double major
curve describes a scoliosis in which there are two structural
curves which are usually of equal size. Double thoracic curve
a scoliosis with a structural upper thoracic curve, as well as
a larger, more deforming lower thoracic curve, and a relatively
nonstructural lumbar curve.
Double major scoliosis - Scoliosis with two structural curves.
Double thoracic curve (scoliosis) -
Scoliosis with a structural upper
thoracic curve, a larger, more deforming lower thoracic ad relatively
non-structural lumbar curve.
Ductility - Property
of a material to absorb relatively large amounts of plastic deformation
energy before failure. The opposite of brittleness.
Dura mater - Tough
outer membrane of the spinal cord.
Dynamic load - A
load applied to a specimen is called dynamic if it varies with
time.
