Display Patient Information Leaflets

Date issued: January 2025 

For review: January 2027 

Ref: C-550/KD/Orthopaedic/Arthroplasty PIFU: Hip and Knee Joint Replacement v3

PDF: Arthroplasty PIFU Hip and Knee Joint Replacement[pdf] 303KB

PIFU Hip and Knee Joint Replacement 

Tel: 01752 433032

Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU)

You have been added to the PIFU service for hip and knee replacement surgery. PIFU allows you to take a greater role in the management of your condition. It allows you to access specialist clinical advice if you, your relative or carer, are concerned that you are having problems with your hip or knee replacement.

What is patient initiated follow up (PIFU)?

You, your relative or carer can request a review of your joint replacement, within 5 years of your surgery, if you have any worries or concerns about your hip or knee replacement. This is instead of having a prearranged or regularly scheduled appointment.

What happens if I am placed on PIFU?

Your clinician has identified that you would benefit from being on the PIFU pathway for your joint replacement(s).  You, your relative or carer will be able to contact the service directly to arrange a follow-up review as and when you feel concerned, as long as it is within the 5 years. 

If you do not feel the need to contact the hospital during this time, at the end of the 5 years you will be removed from the PIFU waiting list and returned to the care of your GP.

This leaflet describes what you should do, if you have any concerns relating to your hip and/or knee joint replacement. For all other concerns, or if you are feeling unwell, your GP remains your first point of contact.

What should I do if I have a concern relating to my joint replacement?

The service is quick and easy to use.  You, your relative or carer just call the Orthopaedic team on 01752 433032 ensuring you provide the following information: 

• Hospital or NHS Number
• Full Name
• Date of Birth
• Reason for calling
• Whether you have had a recent x-ray of the problem joint replacement(s) within the last 3 months (to avoid x-rays that are not needed).  

If no one is available, please leave a voicemail message for the team to return your call. Please include your name, date of birth, hospital number and a short message.

Please note that the secretary cannot give clinical advice.

We will then usually send you a questionnaire to complete, and an invite to book a check x-ray for the relevant joint replacement(s) if needed.

• Once we receive your completed questionnaire and notification that the x-rays have been taken, we will undertake a Virtual Clinic review.
• If there is anything we would like to clarify we will contact you to discuss it.
• We may invite you for a hospital outpatient appointment if we feel it is needed.
• If there is no need for a hospital appointment, we will write to you and your GP with the results of the x-rays and Virtual Clinic review and inform you of the plans for ongoing follow up.

Please remember, it is important that you are available for any x-ray or face to face appointment if arranged. If you find you are unable to attend, please tell us in advance so we can try to give your appointment to someone else. Failure to do so may lead to you being removed from the waiting list and referred back to your GP.

When to contact the service?

•  If you experience any problems or have concerns with your joint replacement

When is it not appropriate to contact the service? 

If you have any of the following symptoms from the hip or knee replacement you should ask your GP for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111:

•  Throbbing or cramping pain in your leg
•  High temperature
•  Chills and feel shivery
•  Oozing or pus from your wound
•  Redness, tenderness, swelling or pain in your leg that is not getting better or is getting worse (These could be signs of an         infection or a blood clot.)
•  Severe new joint pain following a recent fall or trauma (due to possible dislocation or fracture)

It is also not appropriate to use this service:

• If your joint replacement was not performed under the care of University Hospitals Plymouth, or not previously under routine follow up by the University Hospital clinic. 
• To discuss an appointment for another condition, even if it is within Orthopaedics.

We hope the PIFU pathway will enable you to access our services if you need help with your joint replacement. 

Hip and knee replacements can start to wear loose over time or develop other problems. If you develop new symptoms relating to your replaced joint after your PIFU time has finished you should contact your GP practice for review. Your GP can refer you back to us if you need to be seen again in the future.