Palpation

Examination by feeling and touching

Pan

Prefix meaning total, all-embracing, everything

Patella

The kneecap

Patellar

Pertaining to the kneecap

Pathology

Science of diseases, their development and consequences for the organs

PcP

Abbreviation for primary chronic polyarthritis, the scientific term for rheumatism

PE

In this context: abbreviation for polyethylene, a white polymer plastic

Penicillamine

A basic therapy for chronic polyarthritis

Per

Prefix for through

Peri

Prefix for around, near

Periarthropathia

("Frozen shoulder") a painful inflammation at the shoulder joint that impairs its functions, although the joint itself is usually not affected. It is a form of rheumatism that affects the soft tissue

Periarticular

Around a joint

Perioperative

Concerning a surgical operation, that is the time before, during and after the operation

Periost

This is the skin of the bone

Peripheral

Outside, at the edge, distant, away from the centre

Percutaneous therapy

Treatment through the skin. In this way the medicines in an ointment penetrate the skin and the underlying tissue

Phase

This is a sudden pathological process in a chronic illness (e.g. in the case of primary chronic polyarthritis). The sudden reoccurrence of pain and inflammation in organs such as joints after a long period without any symptoms

Phlebitis

This an a vein inflammation

Physical therapy (physiotherapy)

A therapy that can be used for many sport injuries with physical movements, partly in combination with medicines. It includes gymnastics, under water movements, medicinal baths, heat therapy and cold therapy

Physiotherapy

Treatment of illnesses by natural means such as baths, massages, gymnastics, light etc.

Piriformis syndrome

A pain that occurs in the region of the sciatic nerve when resting or in motion and which moves from the back to the legs accompanied by hardened muscles and rigidity of the spine. Piriformis syndrome is caused by changes to the inter-vertebral discs (e.g. disc prolapsis) in the lumbar spine and can start with lumbago

PKV

Abbreviation in German for "Private Krankenversicherung" (private health insurance)

Plaster cast

A cast made of plaster used to immobilise joints and limbs in a desired position. The initially soft plaster casts are dipped in water and then modelled to the body. They start to harden after about 30 minutes

Plastics

Production, restoration, reformation; restoration of a diseased section of tissue using the body's own material and also artificial material

Plateau

In this instance the bearing surface of the shinbone or the shinbone part of a knee prosthesis

Plug

This is applied in the marrow cavity in order to prevent the still viscous bone cement from penetrating any deeper

PMMA

Abbreviation for PolyMethylMethAcrylate, the chemical term for bone cement

Polyclinic

Greek: polis = town, i.e. the "clinic for the town" where out-patients are treated

Poly

Prefix meaning many, several, multiple

Polyarthritis

Means inflammations of several joints occurring simultaneously or in succession; medical term for rheumatism

Polyarticular

Means affecting many joints

Polyethylene

A relatively soft, long-chain plastic used to make the socket component and bearing surfaces for artificial joints, e.g. cup insert for hip joints, bearing for knee endprostheses, abbreviation: PE

Polymer

Plastic consisting of comparatively large, individual parts that combine to form a long chain

Polymethylmethacrylate

Chemical name for the self-hardening plastic that is used as bone cement; this is therefore an acrylic resin, i.e. plexiglass; abbreviation: PMMA

Polytrauma

This is a multiple injury

Post

Prefix for after, later

Postoperative

After surgery

Prearthrosis

This is a pathological condition that favours the development of arthrosis, e.g. congenital dislocations that lead to above-average strain on the joint causing greater wear and tear

Pre

Prefix for before, prior to

Preoperative

Before surgery

Press-fit

Press-fit is an uncemented implantation technique where parts of the prosthesis are firmly pressed into a small, preformed bone socket, thus giving it stability

Primary

In the case of illnesses and diseases the word primary means that no genuine causes are known, e.g. primary arthrosis = arthrosis without any hitherto known cause

Primary chronic polyarthritis (PcP)

Is often equated with "rheumatism" in everyday speech. It is a disease of the connective tissue that is not restricted to any certain regions. Other tissue such as tendons, synovial membranes, muscles, vessels and nerves are very often affected as well. Some signs are typical. These include the rheumatoid factor, rheumatic nodes and certain types of deformation. Fairly frequent complications are Raynaud's syndrome and the Carpal tunnel syndrome

Primary wound care

Wound care means the initial treatment of a wound after an injury. If a wound needs to be stitched (primary wound closure), this should be done within the first 6 hours after the injury

Primary stability

Stability and firmness of the position of a prosthesis immediately after implantation

Pro

Prefix meaning, instead of, for, before

Prognosis

Forecast for the course of a disease and the chances of healing

Prophylaxis

Preventative measures

Prosthesis

Artificial replacement of an organ section or part of a limb

Proximal

Latin: close to the trunk

Pseudo-arthrosis

Incorrect formation of the joints; it is caused when a fracture does not heal and the bone parts remain mobile in relation to each other

Punction

Puncturing a vessel, organ or joint with a hollow needle; in the case of sport injuries also to remove fluid when knee-joint effusion occurs