The COVID-19 Pandemic Did Not Have a Negative Impact on Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport 6 Months After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Purpose: To compare 6-month postoperative levels of psychological readiness to return to sport (RTS) in patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Patients between 8 and 35 years of age were enrolled 6 months post primary ACLR at an academic sports medicine practice from December 2018 to May 2021 and categorized into pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 groups. Demographics and outcomes scores, including ACL-Return to Sport after Injury Scale, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Psychological Stress Experiences, International Knee Documentation Committee Score (IKDC), Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale, and physician RTS clearance were compared. χ Results: A total of 231 patients were included (89 male, 142 female, average age 16.9 years), with 76% (176/231) in the pre-COVID-19 group and 24% (55/231) in the COVID-19 group. No significant differences in age and sex were noted between cohorts. A significant difference in time from surgery to enrollment was seen in the COVID-19 group compared to the pre-COVID-19 group (7.1 vs 6.2 months, Conclusions: Young patients showed similar levels of psychological readiness to RTS at 6 months after ACLR before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient-reported outcome scores were comparable between groups, suggesting minimal COVID-19 pandemic impact on perceptions of recovery. Psychological readiness may not be fully optimized at 6 months post-ACLR, and young patients may benefit from additional time and rehabilitation. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort analysis of prospectively collected data.