Semaglutide use was associated with increased rates of pseudarthrosis and dysphagia in patients having posterior cervical fusion, according to a study in the September issue of The Spine Journal.
Six things to know:
1. Researchers used data from the PearlDiver Mariner to measure outcomes in posterior cervical fusion patients between 2010 and 2022.
2. A total of 340 semaglutide users and 1,540 matched controls were included. Researchers focused on medical and surgical complications, readmissions, emergency department visits and associated costs within 90 days and two years postoperatively.
3. Semaglutide had “significantly higher” odds of pseudoarthrosis at two years and dysphagia.
4. Same-day costs and mean 90-day costs were “significantly lower” in patients who were taking semaglutide.
5. Semaglutide use didn’t affect rates of emergency department visits or readmissions.
6. The study concluded, “Semaglutide use is associated with an increased risk of long-term complications, including pseudoarthrosis and dysphagia, as well as lower same-day and 90-day costs in patients undergoing PCF. These findings highlight the importance of careful perioperative management of semaglutide users to optimize outcomes while leveraging its purported benefits.”
