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Effect of Glucagon-Like-Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists on Distal Radius and Scaphoid Fracture Union Rate
William Sells, BHS, Bradley J. Vivace, MD; Daniel London, MD
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Introduction: Glucagon-Like-Peptide-1 (GLP1) receptor agonists have become widely used for diabetes and weight loss. Basic science data indicates these agents may play a role in promoting osteoblastogenesis, and a recent study has found significantly lower pseudoarthrosis rates for patients prescribed GLP1 agonists undergoing subtalar and triple arthrodesis. We sought to evaluate the association of non-union in the treatment of distal radius and scaphoid fractures in patients prescribed GLP1 agonists.
Methods: TriNetX United States Collaborative network was queried for ICD-10 codes signifying all distal radius and scaphoid fractures. Patients prescribed GLP1 agonists were identified and compared to those not prescribed GLP1, and the incidence of non-union was identified in both cohorts.
Results: 30,427 distal radius fractures were identified with 474 non-unions (1.6%); 3,150 patients in this group were prescribed GLP1 agonists. Non-union rate between patients prescribed GLP1 agonists and those not was not significantly different (1.3% vs 1.6%, respectively (p = 0.29)). 15,381 scaphoid fractures were identified with 1,316 non-unions (8.6%); 2,084 patients in this group were prescribed GLP1 agonists. Non-union rate between patients prescribed GLP1 agonists and those not was not significantly different (7.8% vs 8.7%, respectively (p = 0.09). Patients prescribed GLP1 agonists were found to have significantly higher hemoglobin A1C values and a significantly higher body mass index in both fracture groups, while only a significantly higher percentage of smokers in patients sustaining distal radius fractures. Table 1 and 2 contains further details of these results.
Conclusions: GLP1 agonist use was prevalent in both fracture groups. There appears to be no significant association between GLP1 agonist use and union rates for scaphoid and distal radius fractures.
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