Analysis of the effect of asymptomatic hyperuricemia on the effectiveness after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

Objective To investigate the effect of asymptomatic hyperuricemia on the effectiveness of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Methods The clinical data of 80 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and met the selection criteria between March 2018 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the serum uric acid level, the patients were divided into hyperuric acid group (46 cases, the serum uric acid level was more than 417 μmol/L in males and was more than 357 μmol/L in females) and normal group (34 cases, serum uric acid level was lower than the above standard). There was no significant difference in gender, age, side, body mass index, blood glucose level, total cholesterol level, rotator cuff tear size, and preoperative shoulder motion, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) score, Constant score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and other general data between the two groups ( P>0.05). The range of motion of abduction, forward flexion, and external rotation at 90° abduction were recorded and compared between the two groups before operation and at last follow-up; the improvement of shoulder pain was evaluated by VAS score; the improvement of shoulder function was evaluated by UCLA score, Constant score, and ASES score; and the shoulder joint MRI grade was evaluated according to Sugaya evaluation criteria. Results All patients were followed up 9-16 months, with an average of 11.9 months; there was no significant difference in the follow-up time between the two groups ( t=0.968, P=0.336). There were 2 cases of retear in the hyperuric acid group (including 1 case of severe tear) and 1 case of light retear in the normal group. The remaining patients in the two groups had no early-related complications. At last follow-up, the range of motion of the shoulder joints (abduction, forward flexion, external rotation at 90° abduction), VAS score, UCLA score, Constant score, and ASES score of the two groups were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones ( P<0.05); the above indicators in the normal group were significantly better than those in the hyperuric acid group ( P<0.05). The MRI grade of the shoulder joint in the normal group was significantly better than that in the hyperuric acid group ( Z=-2.000, P=0.045). Conclusion Compared with patients with normal serum uric acid level, asymptomatic hyperuricemia can lead to worse recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in patients with rotator cuff tears.