Time to return to school following ACL reconstruction: influence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Phys Sportsmed
; : 1-6, 2022 Oct 21.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2069955
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
ACL reconstruction is commonly performed in school-aged patients for whom missed time from school can have an impact on their education. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to different ways of accessing school content. We sought to determine how many days of school school-aged patients should expect to miss following ACL reconstruction and how the availability of remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic affected this.METHODS:
We evaluated 53 ACL reconstruction patients in grades 7-12 undergoing surgery during the school year. Demographic, medical, and educational information were collected. Patients were placed into 1 of 2 cohorts Group A (surgery before the COVID-19 pandemic) or Group B (surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic). We calculated days missed from school after surgery until return to either virtual or in-person school.RESULTS:
Overall, patients returned to school after missing an average of 4.4 (SD, 3.0) days of school after ACL reconstruction surgery. Patients in Group A missed an average of 5.5 (SD, 2.9) school days, while patients in Group B missed an average of 2.3 (SD, 1.4) school days (p <.001). Eighty-nine percent of Group B patients first returned to school utilizing a virtual option. Among those returning virtually, these patients missed an average of 1.9 (SD, 0.9) school days.CONCLUSIONS:
A virtual distance learning option results in fewer missed days of school post ACL reconstruction. When given this option, school-aged patients can expect to return to school within two days post-op. Otherwise, patients should expect to miss about one week of in-person schooling. In this regard, the COVID-19 pandemic has positively impacted educational opportunities for students post-surgery, and physicians should advocate for continuing virtual options for students receiving medical treatment.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Language:
English
Journal:
Phys Sportsmed
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
00913847.2022.2136983
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