©BRIGHSTARS 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Chapter 30: Orthopedic Surgery Exam Study
Guide.
Alloys - Answer✔metal that is composed of a mixture of pure metals
Aponeurosis - Answer✔a tendinous sheet that separates muscles or attaches a muscle to bone
Arthrodesis - Answer✔surgical fusion of joint
bioactive implant - Answer✔an orthopedic implant that releases calcium to enhance healing
Biocompatibility - Answer✔a term that describes a material that is compatible with the tissue
(causes no toxic or inflammatory effect)
Biomechanics - Answer✔the relationship between movement and biological or anatomical
structures
Broaches - Answer✔Fin-shaped rasps used to enlarge the medullary canal for the insertion of an
implant
cannulated - Answer✔a device having a hollow core; for example, an instrument with a central
channel that can be fitted over a guidewire or pin
casting - Answer✔a method of immobilizing a limb by the application of rigid or semi-rigid
material along the length of the limb. A cast can be fully or partially circumferential.
Closed Reduction - Answer✔alignment of bone fragments into anatomical position by
manipulation or traction.
Comminuted - Answer✔a fracture in which there are multiple bone fragments.
Compartment Syndrome - Answer✔extreme tissue swelling within a closed compartment of the
body or closed external device such as a cast. Edematous tissue can exceed the capacity of the
space it is held in, causing insufficient pressure to cause tissue necrosis.
Compression - Answer✔mechanical force in which a structure is compacted or pressed together.
A compression injury (compression fracture) results when bone or other tissue is compacted.
Cruciate - Answer✔cross shaped
Dislocation - Answer✔displacement of a joint from its normal anatomical position
1|Page
, ©BRIGHSTARS 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Distraction - Answer✔a mechanical process in which a structure is elongated. Distraction can be
used to suspend a limb (and thereby stretch the soft tissue and bones) during surgery. A
distraction injury is caused by the pulling apart or stretching of tissue (the opposite of a
compression injury). To hold it in alignment and elevate it for operative exposure
Examination Under Anesthesia (EUA) - Answer✔A fracture or dislocation may be fully assessed
under general anesthesia
External Fixation - Answer✔a method of maintaining bone fragments in anatomical position
from outside of the body. A cast is an example of an external fixation device.
Internal Fixation - Answer✔surgical repair of a fracture by implanting a device such as metal
plate, rod, or nail that holds the bone fragments in correct position during healing.
Open reduction - Answer✔surgical access (through a incision) to bring bone fragments into
anatomical alignment.
Orthopedic System - Answer✔a specific (usually patented) set of instruments and implants used
for an orthopedic technique.
Press-Fit - Answer✔to impact or press a joint implant into position. Doesnt need bone cement.
Ream - Answer✔to enlarge a preexisting hole, depression, or channel, such as the medullary
canal.
Reduction - Answer✔The process of manipulating bone fragments to restore anatomical
position.
Replantation - Answer✔surgical attachment of a limn (hands, fingers, arm) after traumatic
amputation.
Tap - Answer✔a spiral path drilled through the bone before inserting a screw.
Traction - Answer✔a mechanical method of applying pulling force to a fractured bone in order
to bring the fragments into alignment.
Surgery is used to treat - Answer✔or correct injuries, congenital anomalies, and disease of the
bone, joints, ligaments, tendons or muscle.
Skeleton system is divided into two parts: - Answer✔the axial and appendicular skeleton system
Axial Skeleton System Includes - Answer✔skull, face, ear bones, hyoid, sternum, and ribs.
Appendicular System Includes - Answer✔the bones of the legs, feet, hands, trunk, and spine.
Individual bones usually articulate or join other bones at the joint.
The skull or cranium has 8 main bones that are connected by tough connective tissue -
Answer✔called sutures.
Fontanels - Answer✔are areas where the joint space is particularly wide. These occur in the
posterior skull at the junction of the parietal and occipital bones and in the anterior skull between
2|Page
Chapter 30: Orthopedic Surgery Exam Study
Guide.
Alloys - Answer✔metal that is composed of a mixture of pure metals
Aponeurosis - Answer✔a tendinous sheet that separates muscles or attaches a muscle to bone
Arthrodesis - Answer✔surgical fusion of joint
bioactive implant - Answer✔an orthopedic implant that releases calcium to enhance healing
Biocompatibility - Answer✔a term that describes a material that is compatible with the tissue
(causes no toxic or inflammatory effect)
Biomechanics - Answer✔the relationship between movement and biological or anatomical
structures
Broaches - Answer✔Fin-shaped rasps used to enlarge the medullary canal for the insertion of an
implant
cannulated - Answer✔a device having a hollow core; for example, an instrument with a central
channel that can be fitted over a guidewire or pin
casting - Answer✔a method of immobilizing a limb by the application of rigid or semi-rigid
material along the length of the limb. A cast can be fully or partially circumferential.
Closed Reduction - Answer✔alignment of bone fragments into anatomical position by
manipulation or traction.
Comminuted - Answer✔a fracture in which there are multiple bone fragments.
Compartment Syndrome - Answer✔extreme tissue swelling within a closed compartment of the
body or closed external device such as a cast. Edematous tissue can exceed the capacity of the
space it is held in, causing insufficient pressure to cause tissue necrosis.
Compression - Answer✔mechanical force in which a structure is compacted or pressed together.
A compression injury (compression fracture) results when bone or other tissue is compacted.
Cruciate - Answer✔cross shaped
Dislocation - Answer✔displacement of a joint from its normal anatomical position
1|Page
, ©BRIGHSTARS 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Distraction - Answer✔a mechanical process in which a structure is elongated. Distraction can be
used to suspend a limb (and thereby stretch the soft tissue and bones) during surgery. A
distraction injury is caused by the pulling apart or stretching of tissue (the opposite of a
compression injury). To hold it in alignment and elevate it for operative exposure
Examination Under Anesthesia (EUA) - Answer✔A fracture or dislocation may be fully assessed
under general anesthesia
External Fixation - Answer✔a method of maintaining bone fragments in anatomical position
from outside of the body. A cast is an example of an external fixation device.
Internal Fixation - Answer✔surgical repair of a fracture by implanting a device such as metal
plate, rod, or nail that holds the bone fragments in correct position during healing.
Open reduction - Answer✔surgical access (through a incision) to bring bone fragments into
anatomical alignment.
Orthopedic System - Answer✔a specific (usually patented) set of instruments and implants used
for an orthopedic technique.
Press-Fit - Answer✔to impact or press a joint implant into position. Doesnt need bone cement.
Ream - Answer✔to enlarge a preexisting hole, depression, or channel, such as the medullary
canal.
Reduction - Answer✔The process of manipulating bone fragments to restore anatomical
position.
Replantation - Answer✔surgical attachment of a limn (hands, fingers, arm) after traumatic
amputation.
Tap - Answer✔a spiral path drilled through the bone before inserting a screw.
Traction - Answer✔a mechanical method of applying pulling force to a fractured bone in order
to bring the fragments into alignment.
Surgery is used to treat - Answer✔or correct injuries, congenital anomalies, and disease of the
bone, joints, ligaments, tendons or muscle.
Skeleton system is divided into two parts: - Answer✔the axial and appendicular skeleton system
Axial Skeleton System Includes - Answer✔skull, face, ear bones, hyoid, sternum, and ribs.
Appendicular System Includes - Answer✔the bones of the legs, feet, hands, trunk, and spine.
Individual bones usually articulate or join other bones at the joint.
The skull or cranium has 8 main bones that are connected by tough connective tissue -
Answer✔called sutures.
Fontanels - Answer✔are areas where the joint space is particularly wide. These occur in the
posterior skull at the junction of the parietal and occipital bones and in the anterior skull between
2|Page
