The Impact of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Agonists on Hip and Knee Arthroplasty and Perioperative Considerations

Glucagon-Like Peptide agonists have traditionally been used for glycemic control in diabetic patients. However, there has been a dramatic rise in their utilization for weight loss management. As such, arthroplasty surgeons will encounter an increasing number of patients on these medications, and therefore it is important to understand the implications of their use in the perioperative period. This review will describe the pharmacological actions of these medications as well as the impact on hip and knee arthroplasty patients, and considerations for perioperative management. Because of the rapid adaption and utilization of these drugs, the science is evolving at a fast pace. More and longer-term studies are needed to truly understand the impact of these medications on total joint arthroplasty utilization and in management of these patients in the perioperative period.