Effect of hyperuricemia on functional outcomes and complications in patients with elbow stiffness after open arthrolysis combined with hinged external fixation: a retrospective study

Background: Hyperuricernia is considered a risk factor for increased postoperative complications and adverse functional outcomes in a variety of orthopedic surgeries. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of patients with different uric acid levels after elbow arthrolysis. Methods: The study included 131 patients with post-traumatic elbow stiffness who underwent arthrolysis between March 2014 and March 2016. All patients were divided into 4 groups based on the preoperative serum level of uric acid (UA). The quartile method was used for grouping patients, including 33 in Q1 (UA <293 mu mol/L), 34 in Q2 (293-348 mu mol/L), 32 in Q3 (348-441 mu mol/L), and 32 in Q4 (441-710 mu mol/L). At baseline and each time point of follow-up, functional performance, Mayo Elbow Performance Score, visual analog scale for pain, and complications were evaluated. Results: Preoperative data were not significantly different among the 4 groups (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4). At the final follow-up, the following data showed significant differences among the 4 groups: extension (P = .031), flexion (P = .008), range of motion (P = .003), Mayo Elbow Performance Score (P = .011), and visual analog scale (P = .032). Interestingly, patients in the Q4 group had the poorest clinical outcomes. However, no significant differences were found among the 4 groups in new onset or exacerbation of nerve symptoms (P = .919), reduced muscle strength (P- .536), instability (P = .567), or infection (P = .374) at the last follow-up. Conclusion: This study confirms that in patients with post-traumatic elbow stiffness, abnormal serum uric acid metabolism was a risk factor for poor performance and postoperative pain after arthrolysis. Therefore, detecting the preoperative serum uric acid levels of the patients would be helpful for evaluating the postoperative outcomes. (C) 2020 The Authors.