The Effectiveness of Physiotherapist-Led Arthroplasty Follow-Up Clinics

Abstract

INTRODUCTION The conventional job descriptions of professionals within the NHS need to evolve in order to meet increasingly stringent targets and demands. One innovation is the introduction of a physiotherapist-led arthroplasty follow-up clinic. We present an audit of 1000 appointments to this clinic. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 865 patients were seen with 933 arthroplasties over an 8-month period; 135 appointments were not attended. Prospective data were collected at each attendance. RESULTS Less than 7.5% of patients required re-referral to an orthopaedic consultant, of which 36% were for consideration for further joint replacement. The cost of a physiotherapy appointment was £4.97 compared to £5.04 for a traditional orthopaedic assessment. By reducing the number of follow-up patients seen in orthopaedic clinics, we estimate that each consultant would be able to see two additional new patients per week. CONCLUSIONS Assessment of arthroplasty follow-up outside of the traditional orthopaedic clinic setting is a time-effective alternative; however, the cost-benefit and educational impact is less clear.