The popularity of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists has led to a concomitant increase in the need to understand the potential perioperative ramifications of taking these drugs, from increased aspiration risk to prosthetic joint infections. At the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2025 Annual Meeting, researchers presented an array of studies looking at the effects of GLP-1 agents on outcomes from joint surgeries. Although most studies uncovered some benefits of these agents in a variety of surgical procedures, not all effects were positive.
“I think the big picture is that we need more answers regarding the actual implications for patients on these medications, particularly over the long term, as well as what happens when they stop taking GLP-1s,” said Dustin J. Schuett, DO, FAAOS, an…