Standard Terms for Diagnoses, Anatomical Locations, and Operations

Treating a patient in shock through the use of plasma. Also of interest is the camouflaged painted helmet seen on the soldier sitting at right.

| Introduction | Standard Terms for Diagnoses | Standard Terms for Anatomical Locations | Standard Terms for Operations |

Introduction:

In World War 2, the Medical Department provided lists of Standard Terms to be used as a guide in preparing Records of Sick and Wounded. It was not intended that they be rigidly adhered to; any well-established terms in medical usage could be employed also; it was just meant to be followed as far as was practicable.

Any new terms that were later inserted, were to be placed in their proper alphabetical order and assigned numbers within the limits of the already existing numerical codes. When diseases or injuries occurred for which no terms were furnished in the lists, or for which the terms given were of a general character, they were to be recorded with such scientific terms as commonly applied by the profession, in brief and accurate descriptions.

Shock position .

Special notes were required in case of malingering, or feigned diseases, and of the means employed for their detection.

“Register of Sick and Wounded” (Form 52, M.D.) – a Register of the Sick and Wounded of every military establishment or force attended by a Medical officer (or civilian Physician) will be maintained in peace and in the Zone of Interior during war! The Register of patients will be kept on Form 52, M.D. A case recorded on this Form is said to be on the Register. Cases taken up on the Register will be borne thereon until final disposition is effected; during this period, cases are said to be currently on the Register. Register cards will be legibly written in blue or black ink, using the typewriter when practicable. Abbreviations authorized by the War Department may be used. When space on the card (front part) is insufficient, record will be continued on the back of the card or, if still more space is required, upon an extension slip.

Illustration showing obverse of Form 52, Medical Department, U.S.A., (Revised March 15, 1938), 3-3623, early pattern

Since Form 52 dates from before WW2 it still holds some of the older abbreviations and headings such as: Gar. Pris. (Garrison Prisoner), Gen. Pris. (General Prisoner), DD Susp. (Dishonorable Discharge Suspended), DD Comp. (Dishonorable Discharge Completed), W (White), C (Colored), F (Filipino), PR (Puerto Rican), I (Indian), V.O.C.O. (Verbal Order of Commanding Officer), LOD (Line Of Duty),  EAD (Extended Active Duty), ADT (Active Duty Training), etc.

Illustration showing position of a patient for a Cholecystectomy (excision of the gallbladder).

It is important to note that units other than Hospitals, such as the Medical Detachment (attached to Regiments), when located in garrison, on a Post, a Camp, or Station in the ZI, render a monthly “Report of Sick and Wounded” for patients under their control, in the same manner as Hospitals. However, when moving between Stations, in the field, on maneuvers, or in the Theater of Operations, these units will use the “Emergency Medical Tag” (Form 52b, M.D.) in lieu of the Form 52, M.D.)! Hospitals, that are part of a Field Force also render a monthly Report of Sick and Wounded, but will use the “Field Medical Record” (Forms 52c and 52d, M.D.) in lieu of Form 52.

Preparation of Dried Plasma for use

Standard Terms for Diagnoses:

Administration of Oxygen by Face Mask. Note the use of a Winter Pajama Top by the patient.

Standard Terms for Anatomical Locations:

The Standard Terms for Anatomical Locations used in the following list were to be used as a guide in preparing Indexes of Sick and Wounded.

Illustration showing how to apply a Plaster Splint (temporary immobilization).

Standard Terms for Operations:

The Standard Terms for Operations listed below were to be used as a guide in preparing Records of Sick and Wounded. They were to be followed as far as practicable. When operations were performed for which no terms were furnished in the list, they were to be recorded with such scientific terms commonly applied to them by the medical profession, and briefly and accurately described. When new terms were inserted in the list they were to be placed in their proper alphabetical order and assigned numbers within the limits of the numerical codes present.

Illustration showing preparation of a patient for a Lithotomy (incision of urinary bladder to remove stones).

Many medical terms are compounded of root words, and this is especially true of terms describing surgical operations. The word describing an organ is combined with another root word describing the operation performed on it. Example: the word tonsil combined with the suffix – ectomy means surgical removal, such as the term tonsillectomy which designates the operation for surgical removal of the tonsils.

Illustration showing surface areas of the Upper Body (head and neck).

A few more common suffixes describing surgical procedures are:

-desis > surgical fixation by fusion (as in Arthrodesis)
-ectomy > removal (as in Cecectomy)
-graphy > X-Ray examination, after introduction of a contrast medium (as in Roentgenography)  
-lysis >loosening from adhesions (as in Ureterolysis)
-pexy > surgical fixation (as in Nephropexy)
-plasty > building up or restoration (as in Tenoplasty)
-rrhaphy > closure by sutures of an organ or cavity (as in Gastrorrhaphy)
-scopy > inspection of the interior of an organ through an instrument (as in Bronchoscopy)
-stomy > forming of an artificial opening (as in Cystostomy Transperitoneal)
-tomy > cutting open of an organ or cavity (as in Arteriotomy)

Illustration showing Irrigation of the Ear.

0010        Adenoidectomy 0020        Adenoidectomy and Tonsilectomy 0030        Advancement of Eye Muscle 0040        Amputation, Lower Extremity, All or in Part 0050        Amputation, Upper Extremity, All or in Part 0060        Aneuryamorrhaphy 0070        Aponeurosis, Division of 0080        Aponeurosis, Excision of 0090        Appendectomy 0100        Arteriorrhaphy 0110        Arteriotomy 0120        Artery, Ligation 0130        Arthrectomy, Complete Lower,                 Extremity 0140        Arthrectomy, Complete Upper,                 Extremity 0150        Arthrectomy, Partial, Lower                 Extremity 0160        Arthrectomy, Partial, Upper                 Extremity 0170        Arthroclasia, Lower Extremity 0180        Arthroclasia, Upper Extremity 0190        Arthrodesis 0200        Arthroplasty, Lower Extremity 0210        Arthroplasty, Upper Extremity 0220        Arthrotomy, Lower Extremity 0230        Arthrotomy, Upper Extremity 0240        Bladder, Plastic Repair 0250        Blepharosplasty 0260        Blood Vessels, other Operations 0270        Bone Graft, Lower Extremity 0280        Bone Graft, Upper Extremity 0290        Bone Plate, Removal of, Lower                 Extremity 0300        Bone Plate, Removal of, Upper                 Extremity 0310        Bone Rebroken and Set for Faulty                 Union, Lower Extremity 0320        Bone Rebroken and Set for Faulty                 Union, Upper Extremity 0330        Bone, Resection of 0340        Brain Cyst, Drainage	1530        Intestines, other Operations 1540        Intubation 1550        Iridectomy 1560        Iridotomy                 Joint, Aspiration of: 1570        Lower 1580        Upper                 Joint, Aspiration and Injection: 1590        Lower 1600        Upper                 Joint, Dislocation: 1610        Closed Reduction, Lower 1620        Closed Reduction, Upper 1630        Open Reduction, Lower 1640        Open Reduction, Upper                 Joints, Excision Neoplasm,                 Synovial Folds, etc.: 1650        Lower 1660        Upper                 Joint, Removal of Foreign                 or Loose Bodies : 1670        Lower 1680        Upper                 Joint, Resection of : 1690        Lower 1700        Upper 1710        Kidney, Removal of Foreign Bodies 1720        Laminectomy 1730        Laryngectomy, Complete 1740        Laryngectomy, Partial 1750        Laryngoscopy 1760        Laryngotomy 1770        Larynx, Plastic Repair 1780        Larynx, Removal of Foreign Body 1790        Litholopaxy 1800        Lithotomy, Suprapubic
Illustration of an Abdominal Paracentesis (surgical puncture).
0350        Brain Cyst, Excision 0360        Brain, other Operations 0370        Breaking Up of Adhesions 0380        Bursa, Aspiration 0390        Bursa, Excision 0400        Bursa, Incision 0410        Canthoplasty 0420        Canthotomy 0430        Capsulorrhaphy 0440        Cardiorrhaphy 0450        Cataract Extraction 0460        Cauterization 0470        Cecectomy 0480        Cecostomy 0490        Celiotomy 0500        Chalazion Operation 0510        Cholecystectomy   0520        Cholecystotomy 0530        Chondrectomy 0540        Chondrotomy 0550        Circumcision 0560        Clot, Removal 0570        Colectomy, Partial 0580        Colostomy 0590        Colotomy 0600        Conjunctival Keratoplasty 0610        Connective Tissue, Excision of 0620        Connective Tissue, Incision of 0630        Curettement 0640        Cystectomy, Complete 0650        Cystectomy, Partial 0660        Cystorrhaphy 0670        Cystoscopy 0680        Cystostomy Perineal 0690        Cystostomy Suprapubic 0700        Cystostomy Transperitoneal 0710        Debridement 0720        Debridement with Primary Suture 0730        Debridement with Carrel’s Treatment 0740        Debridement with Drainage 0750        Decompression 0760        Decortication 0770        Depressed Fragments, Elevation of 0780        Dilatation 0790        Dilatation of Lacrimal Duct 0800        Disarticulation 0810        Discussion of Cataract 0820        Drainage 0830        Ear, Removal of Foreign Body 0840        Enterocolostomy 0850        Entereroenterostomy 0870        Enterostomy 0880        Enterotomy 0890        Enucleation, Simple 0900        Enucleation, with Implantation 0910        Epididymectomy 0920        Epididymotomy 0930        Epilation 0940        Esophagorrhaphy 0950        Esophagostomy 0960        Esophagotomy 0970        Evisceration 0980        Excision of (Specify) 0900        Exploratory Incision 1000        Extirpation of Lacrimal Sac 1010        Extraction of Fragments of Missile 1020        Extraction of Tooth 1030        Eye, other Operations 1040        Eye, Removal of Foreign Body 1050        Fistula, Excision 1060        Fistula, Incision 1070        Foreign Body, Removal of                 Fracture, Closed Treatment of: 1080        With Buck’s Traction 1090        With External Splints 1100        With Hodgen’s Splints 1110        With Jones’s Traction 1120        With other Methods 1130        With Plaster of Paris Fracture,                 Compound, Closed,                 Treatment of: 1140        With Buck’s Traction 1150        With External Splints 1160        With Hodgen’s Splints 1170        With Jones’s Traction 1180        With Plaster of Paris                 Fracture, Open Treatment of: 1190        By Hand 1200        By Bone Graft 1210        By Plate 1220        By Suture 1230        By Wiring 1240        Other Method 1250        Fracture, Removal of Fragments 1260        Gastrectomy, Complete 1270        Gastrectomy, Partial 1280        Gastroenterostomy 1290        Gastrorrhaphy 1300        Gastrostomy 1310        Gastrotomy 1320        Glossectomy, Complete 1330        Glossectomy, Partial 1340        Hemorrhoids, Clamp and Cautery 1350        Hemorrhoids, Ligation 1360        Hepatorrhaphy                 Hernia: 1370        Femoral, Repair 1380        Inguinal, Repair 1390        Lumbar, Repair 1400        Strangulated, Open Reduction 1410        Umbilical, Repair 1420        Ventral, Repair                 Hydrocele: 1430        Aspiration and Injection 1440        Eversion of Sac (Bottle Operation) 1450        Excision 1460        Hysterectomy 1470        Incision 1480        Incision and Curettement 1490        Incision and Drainage 1500        Incision of Lacrimal Sac 1510        Insertion of Carrel Tubes 1520        Intestinal Resection	1810        Lithotomy, Perineal 1820        Liver, other Operations 1830        Lungs, Removal of Foreign Body 1840        Lymphadenectomy 1850        Mastoidotomy 1860        Mouth, Plastic Repair 1870        Myectomy 1880        Myorrhaphy 1890        Myotomy 1900        Nasal Cavity, Cauterization 1910        Nasal Cavity, Excision Neoplasm 1920        Nasal Cavity, Plastic Repair 1930        Nephrectomy 1940        Nephrolithotomy 1950        Nephropexy 1960        Nephorrhaphy 1970        Nephrotomy 1980        Neurectomy 1990        Neurolysis 2000        Neurorrhaphy 2010        Neurotomy 2020        No Operation 2030        Nose, Plastic Repair 2040        Orchidectomy 2050        Orchidotomy 2060        Ostectomy, Complete 2070        Ostectomy, Partial 2080        Osteotomy 2090        Pancreas, Operation 2100        Paracentesis 2110        Paracentesis Cornea 2120        Paracentesis Ventriculi 2130        Pericardiorrhaphy 2140        Pericardiotomy 2150        Periostotomy 2160        Peritoneum, Drainage 2170        Pharyngotomy 2180        Phlebectomy 2190        Phebotomy 2200        Plastic on Lids 2210        Plastic Repair of Face 2220        Plastic Repair of Rectum 2230        Plastic Repair of Skin 2240        Plastic Repair of other Parts 2250        Plastic Repair of Testicle 2260        Plastic Repair with Celluloid Splints 2270        Plication 2280        Pneumorrhaphy 2290        Pneumothorax, Artificial 2300        Pneumonotomy 2310        Proctectomy 2320        Proctoscopy 2330        Prostatectomy, Perineal 2340        Prostatectomy, Suprapubic 2350        Prostatotomy 2360        Pterygium, Operation for 2370        Ptosis, Operation for 2380        Pulmonary Abscess, Drainage 2390        Reamputation 2400        Rectum, Divulsion 2410        Removal of Foreign Body from Bladder 2420        Removal of Foreign Body from                 Bronchus 2430        Removal of Foreign Body from                 Nasal Cavity 2440        Removal of Foreign Body from Pleura 2450        Rib Resection with Drainage 2460        Saemisch Operation 2470        Salivary Glands, Operation 2480        Sclerocorneal Trephining 2490        Sclerotomy 2500        Sequestrotomy 2510        Silver Wire Removal, Lower Extremity 2520        Silver Wire Removal, Upper Extremity 2530        Sinusotomy, Ethmoidal 2540        Sinusotomy, Frontal 2550        Sinusotomy, Maxillary 2560        Sinusotomy, Sphenoidal 2570        Skin Grafting 2580        Spinal Injection 2590        Spinal Puncture 2600        Splenectomy 2610        Splenorrhaphy 2620        Staphyloma, Operation for 2630        Stomach, other Operations 2640        Submucous Resection 2650        Suprarenal Glands, Operation on 2660        Suture 2670        Suture, Secondary 2680        Symblepharon, Operation for 2690        Tarsorrhaphy 2700        Tendon Transplantation 2710        Tendons, other Operations 2720        Tenoplasty 2730        Tenorrhaphy 2740        Tenosynovectomy 2750        Tecotomy 2760        Tenotomy of Eye Muscle 2770        Thoracentesis 2780        Thoracoplasty 2790        Thoracotomy, with Drainage 2800        Thyroidectomy, Complete 2810        Thyroidectomy, Partial 2820        Tongue, other Operations 2830        Tonsillectomy 2840        Trachea, Removal of Foreign Body 2850        Tracheotomy 2860        Trachoma, Expression 2870        Transfusion 2880        Trephining 2890        Trichiasis, Operation 2900        Turbinectomy 2910        Urethra, Plastic Repair 2920        Urethrotomy, External 2930        Urethrotomy, Internal 2940        Varicocelectomy 2950        Vasectomy 2960        Vasotomy 2970        Vein, Infusion of 2980        Vein, Ligation of 2990        Vesiculectomy, Seminal 3000        Wound, Opened and Packed

Position of a patient for a Craniotomy (opening of the skull).