Does the COVID-19 Pandemic affect Rehabilitation Patterns Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction?

Objective:
To evaluate patients who underwent Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to compare their demographics, postoperative rehabilitation process and outcomes to patients in the corresponding period in 2019.

Methods:
A retrospective study of patients who underwent primary isolated ACLR between February 2019 and July 2020. Two different periods were evaluated; The “COVID group” represents the period between February 1st to July 1st of 2020 and the “non-COVID group” represents the equivalent period in 2019. Rehabilitation features as well as the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on rehabilitation habits were assessed. Patient outcome scores were assessed using the Lysholm, Tegner and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) questionnaires. Subjective satisfaction, post-operative complications and subsequent surgery were recorded.

Results:
46 patients (36 males) in the non-COVID group and 28 patients (24 males) in the COVID group were included. Both groups did not differ significantly in demographics, functional outcome scores and subjective satisfaction.There was no significant difference between the groups in rehabilitation patterns. In the COVID group, 12 patients (43%) reported difficulty to coordinate post-operative physiotherapy resulting in delay of initiating treatment. Only one patient (4%) reported online physiotherapy participation.

Conclusions:
The current study has demonstrated that patients who underwent primary isolated ACLR during the COVID-19 pandemic had no difference in their post-operative rehabilitation patterns, including duration, length and environment of the training, compared to patients in the preceding non-COVID year. The patient`s outcome scores, subjective satisfaction and subsequent surgery rate did not differ between the groups.