B

Back Extension

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:18 -0800

Definition

Back extension is a type of stabilization exercise used in back rehabilitation programs that involves bending the spine backwards. If a patient feels more comfortable when hips are rotated forward with an extended curve in the low back, then an exercise regimen that promotes low back extension (extension biased exercise) may be beneficial.

Back Flexion

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:18 -0800

Definition

Back flexion is a type of stabilization exercise used in back rehabilitation programs that involve bending the spine forward from the waist. If a patient feels better when bending forward, exercises that promote low back flexion (flexion biased) would be helpful.

Movements that utilize back flexion include pulling knees to the chest and posterior pelvic tilts. Williams Flexion is a flexion biased rehabilitation method that has shown to be effective in relieving back pain by strengthening the lower back muscles and ligaments of the back.

Backbone

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:18 -0800

Definition

See Spine

Bioabsorbable Polymer

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:19 -0800

Definition

A bioabsorbable polymer is a chemical compound used in orthopedic implant devices that eventually dissolves and is absorbed by the body. Bioabosorbable polymers make suitable material for prosthetics because they can be engineered to dissolve at the same rate as new bone growth.

Biocompatibility

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:19 -0800

Definition

Biocompatibility is a general term describing the property of a material being compatible with living tissue. Biocompatible materials do not produce a toxic or immunological response when exposed to the body or bodily fluids.

Biocompatible materials are central for use in medical implants and prosthetics to avoid rejection by the body tissue and to support harmonious biological functioning.

Biodegradation

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:20 -0800

Definition

Biodegradation is the biological process by which living systems breakdown chemical substances into simpler components or compounds.

Microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast and fungi work to decompose organic substances and contaminants into non-harmful or less harmful byproducts to the environment.

Related information

Chronic Pain, Coping Techniques, Pain Management - Spine-health.com
read more

Biofeedback

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:21 -0800

Definition

Biofeedback is a behavioral training program that uses specific tools to give patient information about physiological processes such as heart rate, respiration and blood pressure with the goal of learning how to affect or control them.

Biofeedback instruments monitor auditory and visual cues of the body’s physiological stress responses. The information is then used to develop visualization and relaxation techniques to control symptoms from lowering stress levels, alleviating headaches or reducing the perception of pain.

Bisphosphonates

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:21 -0800

Definition

Bisphosphonates is a class of drugs that increase bone strength and density. The bisphosphonate compounds bind to the surface of damaged bone cells, inhibiting the rate of bone breakdown by osteoclast bone cells, known as resorption.

Slowing the rate of resorption allows the bone to recover and heal. The compounds have the therapeutic effect of reducing bone pain, high levels of calcium in the blood and the risk of pathologic hip and spine fractures.

Bodywork

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:21 -0800

Definition

Bodywork is a collective term that refers to alternative medical practices involving hands-on manipulation of the body.

Bodywork techniques range from massage therapy, deep tissue manipulation to yoga. Therapeutic goals of bodywork for the treatment of chronic pain include relaxation, stimulated blood circulation and increased endorphin levels, reduced muscular tension and anxiety.

Bodywork is based on the theories that touch and movement are essential to promoting physical and emotional well-being.

Bone Derivative

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:22 -0800

Definition

Bone derivate is a substance extracted from bone. A common bone derivative is bone morphogenic proteins (BMP) which the body uses to induce bone formation. The substance has been shown to stimulate new bone formation in certain sites, and is used in certain types of spinal fusion surgery.

Bone morphogenic protein products are in various stages of development and use with the goals of growing better bone and supplanting the use of autograft bone in bone grafting procedures.

Bone Graft

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:22 -0800

Definition

A bone graft is the bone transplanted from a donor site to a recipient site to facilitate the fusion of vertebrae in lumbar surgery. The grafting tissue is necessary for osteoinduction – the process of building new bone - to occur.

During spinal fusion surgery, the graft is placed into the disc space or in other places between the two vertebrae - and acts as a calcium scaffolding for the patient’s new bone to grow on.

Bone Marrow

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:23 -0800

Definition

Bone marrow is the soft, fatty network of connective tissue that fills the medulla, the internal cavity of the bone.

The marrow contains stem cells that produce the three cellular components of blood: platelets, leukocytes and red blood cells. The tissue also contains osteoprogenitor cells that help in the formation and growth of new bone.

Bone marrow can be combined with bone graft substitutes in lumbar spine fusion surgery with the goal of enhancing the probability of attaining a successful spinal fusion.

Bone Plate

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:23 -0800

Definition

A bone plate is a thin metal implant used to immobilize bone segments. The plate is affixed with screws to properly align the bone and aid in the healing process.

In spine surgery, a bone plate may be used to help stabilize the fused area and prevent dislodgement of the bone graft. It is used most commonly in cervical fusion surgery (in the neck).

Synonyms and relevant terms

Cortical Bone
Cervical Fusion
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Bone Scan

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:24 -0800

Definition

A bone scan is an imaging technique performed by injecting a small amount of radioactive marker (bone-seeking radionuclide) into an intravenous line. Three hours later, the patient is placed through a scanner with a ‘gamma camera’ and the radioactive marker will be concentrated in any region where there is high bone turnover called ‘hot spots’.

Bone Screw

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:24 -0800

Definition

A bone screw is a metal implant inserted into the bone. Screws are used to immobilize fractured bone segments to aid in the healing process, and as an adjunct to spine fusion surgery to help hold implants in place.

An example of a bone screw commonly used in spine fusion surgery is called a pedicle screw, which holds rods into the spine. The screws are placed at two (or sometimes three) consecutive spine segments (e.g. lumbar segment 4 and 5) and then a short rod is used to connect the screws.

Boston Brace

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:25 -0800

The Boston Brace is a plastic body jacket used in the treatment of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. The Boston brace, also referred to as a Thoraco-Lumbo-Sacral Orthosis (TLSO) brace, wraps under the arms and around the rib cage, lower back, and hips in order to cast the spine into a straighter position.

Bracing treatment is typically prescribed for patients when the spine’s curvature is between 25 and 40 degrees, and it has shown to be an effective means in stopping the progression of scoliotic curves.

Bulging Disc

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:25 -0800

See Degenerative disc disease

Synonyms and relevant terms