Key takeaways
- Artroplastia and reemplazo both mean joint replacement; Colombian reports often say artrosis for osteoarthritis.
- Curación means a dressing change, not a cure, and control means a follow-up visit.
- Know your weight-bearing terms: apoyo total, apoyo parcial, sin apoyo.
- Learn the signos de alarma (warning signs), and ask for an English consent form or an interpreter before signing.
On this page
Many orthopedic surgeons in Medellín and Bogotá who treat international patients speak English, and the larger hospitals often have international patient coordinators. But the nurse on the night shift, the physical therapist on day one and the discharge paperwork may be in Spanish. Knowing the core orthopedic terms helps you follow your own care, ask good questions and catch anything that doesn't match your plan.
This glossary is organized into anatomy, procedures, the hospital stay and discharge, rehab, and warning signs. Each entry gives the Spanish, the English and where you're likely to hear it. It is a reading aid, not a substitute for a medical interpreter. For consent forms and anything that affects a decision, ask for English documents or a professional interpreter.
Tips before you start
- Two words, same thing. Colombian documents often say artroplastia (the formal surgical term) where a patient would say reemplazo (replacement). Both mean the same procedure.
- Abbreviations differ from English. You'll see LCA for ACL, for example. Ask when something is unclear.
- Medical staff usually use usted, the formal "you." You can reply the same way.
- Keep this on your phone. It's most useful at 6 a.m. when a nurse is explaining something quickly.
Colombian staff are generally very patient with patients trying Spanish. "Más despacio, por favor" (slower, please) and "¿Me lo puede escribir?" (can you write it down for me?) go a long way, and writing lets you translate later or show your companion.
Anatomy
You'll hear these during your consultation and see them on imaging reports. If you're sending scans ahead of your trip, our guide to sending DICOM imaging to a Colombian surgeon explains the file side.
| Spanish | English | Where you'll hear or see it |
|---|---|---|
| rodilla | knee | Everywhere for knee patients |
| cadera | hip | Everywhere for hip patients |
| hombro | shoulder | Shoulder consults and imaging |
| tobillo / pie | ankle / foot | Foot and ankle consults |
| mano / muñeca / dedo | hand / wrist / finger | Hand surgery consults |
| codo | elbow | Elbow consults |
| columna | spine | Spine consults |
| rótula | kneecap (patella) | Knee exam and imaging reports |
| fémur / tibia / peroné | femur / tibia / fibula | Imaging reports and implant descriptions |
| acetábulo | hip socket (acetabulum) | Hip replacement planning and reports |
| cabeza femoral | femoral head (ball of the hip) | Hip imaging and surgery notes |
| menisco | meniscus | Knee MRI reports |
| ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA) | anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) | Knee MRI and sports injury consults |
| manguito rotador | rotator cuff | Shoulder MRI and surgery |
| cartílago | cartilage | Imaging reports |
| tendón / ligamento | tendon / ligament | Imaging and exam |
| hueso | bone | Throughout |
One diagnosis term worth knowing: Colombian reports usually say artrosis or osteoartrosis for osteoarthritis. Artritis can suggest inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, so ask if your report uses it.
Procedures and implants
These appear on quotes, consent forms and operative notes. When comparing quotes, it helps to know exactly which procedure each line describes. See how to read an orthopedic package quote.
| Spanish | English | Where you'll hear or see it |
|---|---|---|
| artroplastia total de rodilla / reemplazo total de rodilla | total knee replacement (TKR) | Quotes, consent and surgery notes |
| artroplastia total de cadera / reemplazo total de cadera | total hip replacement (THR) | Quotes, consent and surgery notes |
| reemplazo parcial / unicompartimental | partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement | Knee consults |
| prótesis | implant, prosthesis | Implant discussions and stickers in your records |
| artroscopia | arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) | Knee, shoulder, hip procedures |
| reconstrucción | reconstruction (e.g., of a ligament) | ACL and other ligament surgery |
| osteotomía | osteotomy (cutting and realigning bone) | Knee, hip and bunion surgery |
| artrodesis | fusion (arthrodesis) | Ankle, spine and joint fusion |
| osteosíntesis / material de osteosíntesis | internal fixation / hardware (plates, screws) | Fracture surgery and osteotomies |
| cirugía de revisión | revision surgery | Replacing or fixing a prior implant |
| cementada / no cementada | cemented / uncemented (press-fit) | Implant fixation discussion |
| abordaje anterior / posterior | anterior / posterior approach | Hip replacement planning |
| intervención quirúrgica | surgical procedure | Formal documents |
Implant packaging includes stickers with the manufacturer, model and lot number. These are often placed in your surgical record. Ask for a copy for your own files; your future surgeons may need it. Our article on implant brand questions explains why.
Hospital stay and discharge
From the pre-op visit to the day you leave, these are the words you'll hear most. Use them alongside our discharge packet checklist.
| Spanish | English | Where you'll hear or see it |
|---|---|---|
| ortopedista / cirujano ortopédico | orthopedic surgeon | Throughout |
| anestesiólogo | anesthesiologist | Pre-op visit and surgery day |
| valoración prequirúrgica / preanestésica | pre-op / pre-anesthesia evaluation | Before surgery |
| en ayunas | fasting (nothing to eat) | Pre-op instructions |
| anestesia raquídea | spinal anesthesia | Common for knee and hip replacement |
| anestesia general | general anesthesia | Anesthesia discussion |
| bloqueo | nerve block | Pain control around surgery |
| sala de recuperación | recovery room | Right after surgery |
| hospitalización / habitación | inpatient stay / hospital room | After surgery |
| herida quirúrgica | surgical wound, incision | Wound care instructions |
| puntos / grapas | stitches / staples | Wound care and removal |
| retiro de puntos | stitch or staple removal | Follow-up schedule |
| curación | wound dressing / dressing change | Wound care, not "cure" |
| drenaje | surgical drain | Post-op, if used |
| sonda | urinary catheter | Post-op, if used |
| anticoagulante | blood thinner (for clot prevention) | Discharge medications |
| medias de compresión / medias antiembólicas | compression stockings | Clot prevention and flying |
| epicrisis | discharge summary | Document you take home |
| alta / salida | discharge | "Mañana le damos de alta" = you go home tomorrow |
| fórmula médica | prescription | Discharge |
| incapacidad | medical leave certificate | Discharge paperwork |
| cita de control | follow-up appointment | Discharge and clinic visits |
The consentimiento informado (informed consent) is the one document you should fully understand before signing. If it's only in Spanish, ask for an English version or a professional interpreter, and take the time you need.
Rehab and physical therapy
Your hospital PT will likely start working with you soon after surgery. These terms will help you follow instructions, and they connect directly to our guides on physical therapy in Colombia and prehab before surgery.
| Spanish | English | Where you'll hear or see it |
|---|---|---|
| fisioterapia / terapia física | physical therapy | Rehab plan |
| fisioterapeuta | physical therapist | Hospital and outpatient rehab |
| caminador | walker | Early mobility |
| muletas / bastón | crutches / cane | Mobility progression |
| silla de ruedas | wheelchair | Airports, hospital |
| apoyo total | full weight bearing | Walking instructions |
| apoyo parcial | partial weight bearing | Walking instructions |
| sin apoyo / no apoyar | non-weight bearing | Walking instructions |
| marcha | gait, walking pattern | PT assessment |
| arcos de movimiento / rango de movimiento | range of motion | PT measurements |
| flexión / extensión | bending / straightening | Knee range-of-motion goals |
| fortalecimiento | strengthening | Exercise plan |
| ejercicios en casa | home exercises | Home program |
| subir y bajar escaleras | going up and down stairs | Stair training |
| hielo / crioterapia | ice / cold therapy | Swelling control |
| elevar la pierna | elevate the leg | Swelling control |
Warning signs after surgery
Discharge papers usually include a section called signos de alarma, the warning signs that mean you should call your team or go to the emergency department. Know these in both languages.
| Spanish | English | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| fiebre | fever | Call your team promptly |
| enrojecimiento / calor | redness / warmth | Possible infection; report it |
| secreción por la herida | drainage from the wound | Report it, especially if cloudy or smelly |
| hinchazón / edema | swelling | Some is expected; sudden or one-sided calf swelling is not |
| dolor en la pantorrilla | calf pain | Possible clot; seek care |
| dificultad para respirar | shortness of breath | Emergency; possible clot in the lung |
| luxación | dislocation | After hip replacement: sudden pain, deformity, can't bear weight |
| urgencias | emergency department | Where to go |
If you have trouble breathing or chest pain, treat it as an emergency wherever you are. In Colombia, the national emergency number is 123.
False friends and tricky words
- Curación is a wound dressing or dressing change, not a cure. "Vamos a hacer la curación" means the nurse is changing your bandage.
- Incapacidad is a medical leave certificate, not a statement about your abilities.
- Control means a follow-up visit.
- Constipado usually means having a cold. Constipation, common after surgery and pain medication, is estreñimiento.
- Material on an X-ray report often means surgical hardware (plates, screws), short for material de osteosíntesis.
- Salida can mean discharge in a hospital, not just "exit."
Phrases worth learning
- "Tengo mucho dolor." I'm in a lot of pain.
- "Necesito ir al baño." I need to go to the bathroom.
- "Me siento mareado / mareada." I feel dizzy (male / female speaker).
- "¿Puedo apoyar la pierna?" Can I put weight on my leg?
- "¿Me da una copia de la epicrisis en inglés?" Can I have a copy of the discharge summary in English?
- "Necesito un intérprete." I need an interpreter.
Want help reviewing a Colombian quote or discharge plan? Send it our way and we'll help you understand what it says.
Frequently asked questions
Do orthopedic hospitals in Colombia have English-speaking staff?
Many surgeons and international patient coordinators speak English, especially at larger hospitals in Medellín and Bogotá. Nursing and therapy staff may speak less, so a basic glossary and a translation app help.
What does artroplastia mean?
It's the formal medical term for joint replacement. Artroplastia total de rodilla is a total knee replacement; artroplastia total de cadera is a total hip replacement.
What does apoyo parcial mean on my discharge papers?
It means partial weight bearing: you can put some weight on the leg, as instructed. Ask your surgeon or PT exactly how much and for how long.
What is the emergency number in Colombia?
The national emergency line is 123. Your hospital will also give you a direct contact for post-op concerns; keep it with your discharge papers.
Is this glossary enough for my consent form?
No. It's a reading aid. For the consent form and any decision about your care, ask for an English version or a professional medical interpreter.
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