Orthopaedics · Musculoskeletal System · Medium
Contracture
Meaning: Permanent shortening of muscle, tendon or fascia that restricts joint movement.
In practice: Dupuytren's disease thickens the palmar fascia, pulling the ring and little fingers into flexion.
Quick check
Two questions on related orthopaedics words.
Which word means: Backward displacement of a bone fragment from the vertebral body into the spinal canal.
Answer: Retropulsion
Which word means: Backward angulation of the femoral neck, the opposite of normal forward torsion.
Answer: Retroversion
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