The board of directors for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons decided March 10 to cancel its annual meeting due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The 2020 AAOS Annual Meeting was due to take place March 24-28 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
More than 27,000 attendees were expected at the event.
The growing number of COVID-19 cases, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, and potential risks of large gatherings led to the event's cancellation.
"Our members are needed in their local communities to help their institutions and patients prepare for and react to the growing COVID-19 spread," said AAOS President Kristy Weber, MD, in a press release.
"Orthopedic surgery is known for innovation and for perseverance in the face of great challenges. We have no doubt that this legacy will remain as our global community and healthcare system copes with the challenges that COVID-19 will bring in the coming months."