10/15/2026
For some patients with a high BMI, qualifying for joint replacement surgery can be challenging due to the increased risk of complications. GLP-1 medications are helping some patients reach the weight and metabolic health benchmarks needed to become surgical candidates, opening new possibilities for treatment. In this article, Dr. Robert Runner shares his perspective on how these medications are influencing patient care and orthopedic surgical planning. Read more to learn how GLP-1s are reshaping orthopedic care.
GLP-1 medications are doing something orthopedic surgeons have not seen: returning patients to the surgical candidate pool. Patients who were previously excluded from joint replacement because of weight or uncontrolled diabetes are now reaching the BMI thresholds and metabolic benchmarks that make...