IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON ACUTE ACROMIOCLAVICULAR DISLOCATION EPIDEMIOLOGY AND POST-OPERATIVE OUTCOMES

The purpose of the study was to evaluate how AC dislocation epidemiology and postoperative outcomes have changed during COVID-19 pandemic, in order to take advantage of this peculiar period to better understand risk- and prognostic-factors. A retrospective analysis was performed between the patients surgically treated for acute AC dislocation between March and December of either the 2017, 2018, and 2020. Patients’ characteristics and postoperative outcome was compared. Comparing the one-year Constant-Murley and DASH scores we found that COVID-19 period presented significant worst results. We found a significant decrease of rate of sport injury in COVID- 19 period, and a significant increase of rate of road injury. The most common mechanisms were motorcycle accidents (23,81%) and cases of bicycle accidents (23,81%). No differences were found between age, sex, and failure rate. COVID-19 outbreak changed the epidemiology and the outcome of AC dislocation showing a strong correlation to two-wheel vehicle road accident, and a worst outcome of the patient treated during outbreak.