Screw
Screw (medical)
Screw (pronunciation: /skru:/) is a type of fastener, typically made of metal, and characterized by a helical ridge, known as a male thread (external thread) or just a well thread. In the medical field, screws are often used in surgery to hold bones together, fixate implants, or secure other medical devices.
Etymology
The word "screw" comes from the Old French escroue, meaning "nut", "female screw", or "screw pin". This term is derived from the Latin scrofa, which translates to "sow", a reference to the screw's spiral shape that resembles a pig's tail.
Types of Medical Screws
There are several types of screws used in the medical field, including:
- Cortical screw: These screws are used for hard, dense bones. They have a smaller thread diameter and a thicker core, which makes them stronger and less likely to break.
- Cancellous screw: These screws are used for softer, spongy bones. They have a larger thread diameter and a thinner core, which allows them to grip the bone better.
- Herbert screw: This is a headless, fully threaded screw used in orthopedic surgery, particularly for fractures of the scaphoid bone in the wrist.
- Pedicle screw: These screws are used in spinal surgery to stop the motion of the vertebrae and provide stabilization.
Related Terms
- Bone plate: A metal plate that is attached to a bone with screws to stabilize fractures.
- Orthopedic surgery: The branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system.
- Osteosynthesis: A surgical procedure that stabilizes and joins the ends of fractured (broken) bones by mechanical devices such as metal plates, pins, rods, wires or screws.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Screw
- Wikipedia's article - Screw
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