Glossary of Surgical Specialties

Ever wonder what sort of specialist surgeon you should be looking for? When looking for a specialist, what should you be searching for? Here are definitions of surgical specialties.

Anesthesiology - The science of administering anesthetics.

Cosmetic/Reconstructive Surgery - Plastic surgery for improving a person's appearance by restoration of damaged areas of skin, removal of wrinkles or blemishes, etc.

General Surgery - A surgical specialty that focuses on abdominal organs

Gynecology - The branch of medical science that deals with the health maintenance and diseases of women, esp. of the reproductive organs.

Obstetrics - The branch of medical science concerned with childbirth and caring for and treating women in or in connection with childbirth.

Hand Surgery - The treatment of a broad range of problems that affect the hand, whether they result from cuts, burns, crushing injuries to the hand, or disease processes.

Infectious Disease - Disease caused by a pathogen which enters the body and triggers the development of an infection.

Internal Medicine - medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis, management and nonsurgical treatment of unusual or serious diseases

Neurology - A medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system.

Neurosurgery - Surgery of the brain or other nerve tissue.

Ophthalmology - The branch of medical science dealing with the anatomy, functions, and diseases of the eye.

Lasik - Eye surgery in which the surface of the cornea is reshaped using a laser, performed to correct certain refractive disorders, such as myopia.

Oral and Maxillofacial - Pertaining to, or affecting the mouth, jaws and the face.

Orthopedics - The medical specialty concerned with correction of deformities or functional impairments of the skeletal system, esp. the extremities and the spine, and associated structures, as muscles and ligaments.

Otolaryngology - The branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, function, and diseases of the ear, nose, and throat.

Pain Management - Discipline concerned with the relief of pain

Pathology - The scientific study of the nature of disease and its causes, processes, development, and consequences



Physical Medicine and Rehab - A branch of medicine which aims to enhance and restore functional ability and quality of life to those with physical impairments or disabilities

Plastic Surgery - a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function.

Radiologist/Radiology - The branch of medicine that deals with the use of radioactive substances in diagnosis and treatment of disease

Resident - A physician who joins the medical staff of a hospital as a salaried employee for a specified period to gain advanced training usually in a particular field

Spine - The spinal or vertebral column; backbone

Urology - The scientific, clinical, and esp. surgical aspects of the study of the urine and the genitourinary tract in health and disease.

The following definitions are related to Minimally Invasive Spine surgery

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery - The Minimally Invasive TLIF technique is a less invasive option incorporating the use of specially designed instruments that allow surgeons to achieve the same clinical goals of traditional, “open” TLIF but with much smaller incisions, causing less damage to the surrounding soft tissue.

Hip Arthoscopy - Use of specialized instruments to treat various unusual disorders of the hip

Dallas Surgeons - Surgeons located in Dallas, Texas

Sciatica - Any painful disorder extending from the hip down the back of the thigh and surrounding area

Herniated Disc - an occurrence of the soft center part of the spinal disc rupturing through outer wall of the disc structure

Lumbar Stenosis - a condition where the spinal canal or vertebral foramen becomes narrowed, this causes painful compression on the nerves