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subluxation

 
Dictionary: sub·lux·a·tion   (sŭb'lŭk-sā'shən) pronunciation
n.
Incomplete or partial dislocation of a bone in a joint.


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Dental Dictionary: subluxation
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(sub′luksā′shən)
n

1. incomplete dislocation of a joint. 2. term applied loosely to the temporomandibular joint, indicating relaxation of the capsular ligaments and improper relationship of the joint components, resulting in cracking and popping of the joint during movement.

Partial dislocation of a joint; movement of a joint beyond its maximum passive range so that the alignment between the joint surfaces is distorted. Unlike a complete dislocation, partial contact is maintained between the articulating bones. It is often a transient condition with the joint going back to its normal position without any special treatment, but sometimes a deformity persists. A subluxation of the collar bone at the acromoclavicular joint, as a result of a badly timed tackle in a contact sport, for example, commonly leaves a deformity if not treated properly. Subluxations often recur because they are usually linked with an inherent weakness of the surrounding structures or an anatomical abnormality.

Veterinary Dictionary: subluxation
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A partial dislocation. In the terminology of chiropractic, an abnormal positional relationship between contiguous vertebrae resulting in abnormal biochemical and neurological function.

  • angle of s. — in the Ortolani maneuver, the point at which the hip luxates. See also angle of reduction.
Wikipedia: Subluxation
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A subluxation may have different meanings, depending on the medical specialty involved. It implies the presence of an incomplete or partial dislocation (Latin: luxatio)[1] of a joint or organ.[2] The World Health Organization (WHO) defines both the medical subluxation and the chiropractic subluxation. It contrasts the two and states in a footnote that a medical subluxation is a "significant structural displacement, and therefore visible on static imaging studies."[3]

Orthopedics

An orthopedic subluxation of any joint will usually need medical attention to help relocate or reduce the joint. Nursemaid's elbow is the subluxation of the head of the radius from the annular ligament. Other joints that are prone to subluxations are the shoulders, fingers, kneecaps, and hips affected by hip dysplasia. A spinal subluxation is relatively rare, but can sometimes impinge on spinal nerve roots causing symptoms in the areas served by those roots. In the spine, such a displacement may be caused by a fracture, spondylolisthesis or severe osteoarthritis.

Ophthalmology

An ophthalmologic subluxation is called ectopia lentis, an ocular condition characterized by a displaced or malpositioned lens within the eye.[4] Although a relatively rare disorder, subluxated lenses are frequently found in those who have had ocular trauma and those with certain systemic disorders, such as Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and homocystinuria. Some subluxated lenses may require removal, as in the case of those that float freely or those that have opacified to form cataracts.

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Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Dental Dictionary. Mosby's Dental Dictionary. Copyright © 2004 by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Sports Science and Medicine. The Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science & Medicine. Copyright © Michael Kent 1998, 2006, 2007. All rights reserved.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Subluxation" Read more