With the COVID-19 pandemic, elective orthopedic surgeries were interrupted in most healthcare services. This leads to impacts on the quality of life, as well as on the emotional, professional, and financial situation of patient athletes who had their surgical treatment postponed.
Objective: To evaluate clinical, emotional, and professional impacts on athletes who had their knee surgery postponed.
Methods: This study included 21 patients who were diagnosed with knee injuries and were on a surgical waiting list. Participants answered a questionnaire with socioeconomic questions, activity level (amateur/professional), diagnosis, proposed surgery, and questions about anxiety regarding the postponement and uncertainty of performing the surgery, worsening symptoms, and psychological status in general.
Results: The most prevalent diagnosis was anterior cruciate ligament injury (81%). Moreover, 42.9% of patients reported being highly anxious about the date of surgery, with 23.8% being highly anxious about the uncertainty of surgery. There was a direct positive correlation (r = 0.418), indicating a higher level of anxiety in patients who faced greater financial impact.
Conclusion: The indefinite postponement of surgeries had a great impact on anxiety levels and surgery uncertainty of patients awaiting surgery. Level of Evidence III, Transversal Study.
Com a pandemia de COVID-19, as cirurgias ortopédicas eletivas foram interrompidas na maioria dos serviços de saúde. Isso acarretou impacto emocional, profissional, financeiro e na qualidade de vida de atletas que tiveram seu tratamento cirúrgico adiado. Objetivo: Avaliar esse impacto clínico, emocional e profissional em atletas que tiveram suas cirurgias de joelho postergadas. Métodos: Foram selecionados 21 pacientes com diagnóstico de lesão do joelho que estavam aguardando intervenção cirúrgica. Eles responderam um questionário sobre sua situação socioeconômica, nível de atividade (amador/profissional), diagnóstico, cirurgia proposta, ansiedade em relação ao adiamento e incerteza da realização da cirurgia, piora dos sintomas e quadro psicológico de modo geral. Resultados: O diagnóstico mais prevalente foi a lesão do ligamento cruzado anterior (81%). Dos pacientes, 42,9% relataram estar muito ansiosos sobre a data da cirurgia, e 23,8% muito ansiosos quanto à incerteza da cirurgia. Houve correlação positiva direta (r = 0,418) que indicou maior nível de ansiedade nos pacientes conforme o aumento do impacto financeiro. Conclusão: A suspensão indeterminada das cirurgias gerou um grande impacto, com ansiedade e incerteza dos pacientes que estavam aguardando suas cirurgias. Nível de Evidência III, Estudo Transversal.
Keywords: Anxiety; Athletes; COVID-19; Knee Injuries.