Effects of Parathyroidectomy on Muscle Mass, Strength, and Physical Function in Uremia-Associated Secondary Hyperparathyroidism

Objective: To investigate the effects of parathyroidectomy (PTX) on muscle mass, muscle strength, and motor function at different postoperative stages in uremic patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). Methods: A total of 47 uremic patients with SHPT who underwent PTX were enrolled in this study. General clinical data, including age and blood biochemical parameters, were collected. Pre- and postoperative measurements of lean body mass, the appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI), skinfold thickness, grip strength, and 6-m walk time were recorded. Patients were divided into three groups—short-term, mid-term, and long-term—based on the timing of postoperative follow-up, and the patterns of change in muscle mass, strength, and function at different time points following PTX were analyzed. Results: In the short-term postoperative period, patients’ grip strength increased significantly, and their 6-m walk time decreased significantly (p < 0.05), whilst lean body mass, the ASMI and skinfold thickness showed no significant changes compared with preoperative levels (p > 0.05). In the mid-term postoperative period, lean body mass, the ASMI and grip strength all increased significantly, whilst the 6-m walk time decreased significantly (p < 0.05); there was no significant change in skinfold thickness (p > 0.05). In the long-term postoperative period, skinfold thickness and grip strength increased significantly, and the 6-m walk time was significantly reduced (p < 0.05), whilst lean body mass and the ASMI showed no statistically significant difference compared to preoperative levels (p > 0.05). Conclusions: PTX can effectively improve muscle strength and lower limb motor function in uremic patients with SHPT, and these improvements persist during long-term postoperative follow-up; improvements in muscle mass-related indicators exhibit a phased pattern, with significant increases observed in the mid-postoperative period, suggesting that the improvement in muscle mass following PTX is subject to a certain time-dependent effect.