Knee A to Z

Steroids used in orthopaedics are hormonal drugs used to suppress inflammation.

Knee stiffness can be a result of fluid in the joint, adhesions or scar tissue in the tissue folds, bony deformity or other mechanical obstructions. Page updated February 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

A straight leg raise is knee rehabilitation exercise to strengthen the quads muscles, but it is also used by surgeons to give a quick idea of the activity of the quads after surgery.

Stromal vascular fraction is the name given to a portion of tissue extracted by enzymes from microfragmented fat.

The stutter test is a test for the presence of a symptomatic medial synovial plica in the knee. Page updated May 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

The word 'subchondral' is an adjective referring to the layer of bone immediately under the articular cartilage.

Subchondral drilling is a surgical procedure where small holes are drilled through damaged joint cartilage into the bone marrow of the underlying bone.

Subluxation is when the bones of a joint nearly dislocate, but not quite, and then return to a normal position, eg patellar subluxation.

Sudeck's atrophy is an old term to describe tissue wasting secondary to complex regional pain syndrome.

The sulcus angle is a measurement of the steepness of the walls of the groove in which the kneecap rides (the trochlear groove). Page updated March 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)