Medical dictionary

What is shoulder osteoarthritis?Shoulder osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition that occurs when the cartilage cushioning the ends of the joints in the shoulder wears down over time. This condition primarily affects the glenohumeral joint (where the arm connects to the shoulder) and the acromioclavicular joint (where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade). As the cartilage deterio

What is shoulder pain?Shoulder pain is any kind of pain that occurs in or around the shoulder joint, including the shoulder blades. What are the different types of shoulder pain?You can experience very specific types of shoulder pain, such as:aching shoulder painshooting shoulder painsharp shoulder painwarm or burning shoulder painWhat conditions cause these types of shoulder pain?A

What is a shoulder prosthesis? A shoulder prosthesis is an artificial joint that replaces your damaged shoulder joint by surgical intervention. It is usually carried out when other forms of conservative treatment haven’t worked to relieve symptoms of pain, discomfort and reduced range of movement in your shoulder. People who suffer from osteoarthritis often require a shoulder pr

What is shoulder surgery?Shoulder surgery treats injured shoulders by repairing the muscles, connective tissue, or damaged joints that occur from traumatic injury, or from where the shoulder has been overused. The shoulder is the most flexible joint in the body, allowing the arm to be placed and rotated in many positions in front, above, to the side and behind the body. This degree of movemen

What is shoulder tendonitis? Tendonitis refers to the inflammation of a tendon, in which micro tears and areas of necrosis occur. Tendonitis in the shoulder can mainly affect the long portion of the brachial biceps and the muscles of the rotator cuff. What is the outlook for shoulder tendonitis? Physical therapy and exercise are usually effective when it comes to improv

What is sialendoscopy?Sialendoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat salivary gland disorders. The procedure involves the use of a small, flexible endoscope (a thin tube equipped with a high-definition camera and light source) to examine for any blockages, stones, or other abnormalities.  Why is it done?Sialendoscopy is performed for various reasons:To locate

  What is small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)? Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition that affects the small intestine as a result of bacteria that normally grows in the gut (microbiome) becoming unbalanced and overgrows in the small intestine. Most of the gut bacteria are supposed to be found in the large intestine (colon) where

What is sickle cell anaemia? Sickle cell anaemia is the most well-known and common type of sickle cell disease, in which the blood disorder results in anaemia (a shortage of haemoglobin and/or red blood cells in the blood, reducing the amount of oxygen carried by the blood to the cells that need it). Haemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that binds to oxygen, allowing them to carr

What is sickle cell disease? Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of blood disorders affecting the haemoglobin molecules in red blood cells. Haemoglobin is a protein found in all red blood cells. It binds to oxygen when the blood passes through the lungs, allowing the red blood cells to carry the oxygen throughout the body. When haemoglobin is abnormal, as in sickle cell disease, it affe