fasciotomy
|fas-ci-o-to-my|
🇺🇸
/ˌfæʃiˈɑtəmi/
🇬🇧
/ˌfæʃiˈɒtəmi/
cutting the fascia to relieve pressure
Etymology
'fasciotomy' originates from New Latin/modern medical formation, combining Latin 'fascia' (meaning 'band' or 'bandage', i.e., connective tissue) and Greek 'tomē' (τομή, meaning 'a cutting').
'fasciotomy' was formed in medical Latin (as 'fasciotomia' or similar formations) in modern medical usage by combining 'fascia' + '-otomy' (from Greek 'tomē'), and was adopted into English in medical literature as 'fasciotomy'.
Initially it literally meant 'the cutting of fascia'; this specific surgical meaning has been retained and remains the standard usage in modern medicine.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a surgical procedure in which the fascia (a band of connective tissue) is cut to relieve tension or pressure, commonly performed to treat compartment syndrome or to restore blood flow.
The patient required an emergency fasciotomy to relieve the severe compartment pressure in his lower leg.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/13 10:23