Medical/Neurosurgical Glossary
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Kale Method – Variety of upper cervical adjustment in which a "toggle adjustment” or a sudden, shallow thrust is applied to the side of the neck to correct atlas subluxations, often in a knee-chest position on a special table.

Kanner Syndrome (Asperger Syndrome) – Infantile autism, a syndrome where a child may appear bright, alert and attentive in spite of odd behavior.

Kaulbaum Disease (Catatonia) – This is a psychological syndrome causing loss of volitional movement.

Keller Operation – The type of surgery used most commonly for bunions.

Kernig Sign – The presence of pain and spasm while lying on the back and trying to rotate the hip.

Key Operation – This is a particular type of craniotomy using a straight guide.

Killer Subluxations – Allegedly misaligned spinal bones that some chiropractors feel can result in fatal illness.

Kiloh-Nevin Syndrome (Anterior Interosseous Nerve Syndrome) – This is a weakness of the muscles of the forearm due to damage of this nerve.

Kinky-Hair Syndrome (Menkes Syndrome) – A birth defect with unusually curled hair among other anomalies.

Kleist Sign – An automatic grasping reaction in patients with frontal lobe damage.

Klippel-Feil Syndrome (Cervical Fusion Syndrome) – A birth defect where two of the vertebral bones in the neck are joined together, this is associated with a higher than average incidence of disc disease.

Klippel-Trénaunay Syndrome – Hemangiomas and port wine stains are common in this birth defect which is also known by many similar eponyms.

Klumpke Syndrome – A lower brachial plexus injury from a birth injury or a subsequent trauma to the arm and shoulder.  This is the opposite of an Erb Syndrome.

Klüver-Bucy Syndrome – Behavioral changes following temporal lobe damage or resection.  Violence and unusual sexual behavior are both common in this syndrome.

Kyphoplasty – This is a surgical technique that involves reinforcing a vertebral bone with plastic bone cement. It is used for some fractures.

Kyphosis – An angulation of the spine with the curve bent forward.  This is the opposite of a lordosis. 

If you are aware of any useful spine and neuromusculoskeletal terms which are not included in this list, or if you have suggestions for better definitions,  your help would be greatly appreciated.  Please send me any upgrades and I will update the web site appropriately.  Click here to send a comment.