Assessment and prioritization

Five Ps

Pain, Pallor, Pulselessness, Paresthesia, Paralysis

The five findings named in a neurovascular assessment of a limb. A sixth P, poikilothermia — the limb taking on the temperature of its surroundings — is added in some versions.

What each letter stands for

  1. 1 Pain.
  2. 2 Pallor — loss of color.
  3. 3 Pulselessness — absent or diminished pulse below the site.
  4. 4 Paresthesia — abnormal sensation, such as pins and needles.
  5. 5 Paralysis — loss of movement.

How it gets tested

Asked as a recall item, usually after a scenario involving a cast or a fracture. Paresthesia and paralysis are the two most often confused, and the order runs from earliest to latest.

Related terms

ABC

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