Short-Term Clinical Outcomes After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction In Adolescents During The COVID-19 Pandemic.
Adam Weaver, Brandon Ness, Dylan Roman and 2 others
PMID 35693856WHAT IT FOUND
Adolescents who had ACL reconstruction during the pandemic had stronger uninvolved quadriceps at three months than those treated pre-pandemic.
However, strength in the injured leg and self-reported function were identical between groups. The pandemic did not worsen short-term recovery.
Key findings
01Adolescents who underwent ACL reconstruction during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated significantly greater normalized quadriceps peak torque on the uninvolved limb compared to those who had surgery pre-pandemic.
02There were no significant differences between the pandemic and pre-pandemic groups in quadriceps strength on the injured limb, hamstring strength, or patient-reported outcomes like the Pedi-IKDC and ACL-RSI.
03Short-term clinical outcomes for adolescents recovering from ACL reconstruction were generally similar regardless of whether they underwent surgery during the pandemic or before it.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study only followed patients for approximately three months, whereas ACL rehabilitation typically lasts six to nine months or longer, so long-term outcomes are unknown. The study did not measure the number of physical therapy visits, use of telehealth, or patient compliance with home exercises, which are key factors in recovery. It did not assess other adolescent health factors impacted by the pandemic, such as physical activity levels or mental health. The study was limited to one type of graft (quadriceps autograft) and one institution. The finding of superior uninvolved quadriceps strength in the pandemic group is counter-intuitive and its cause is unclear, potentially reflecting changes in practice patterns like longer visit durations rather than a direct benefit of the pandemic context.
Declared interests
The authors (AW, BN, DR, NG, JC) declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the stronger uninvolved quadriceps in the pandemic group as a benefit of the pandemic or its restrictions. The authors suggest this may reflect changes in therapy delivery, such as longer individual visit times, and the injured limb strength and functional outcomes were not different between groups.