Characteristics and outcomes of cubital tunnel decompression in diabetic patients receiving glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists

Dec 11, 2025Clinics in shoulder and elbow

Features and results of elbow nerve release surgery in diabetic patients using GLP-1 diabetes medications

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Abstract

Among 1,766 matched patients, GLP-1 RA users had a 23.4% incidence of neuropathy at 2 years compared to 30.4% for non-users.

At 90 days, 8.9% of GLP-1 RA users visited the emergency department compared to 10.7% of non-users.
GLP-1 RA users exhibited a greater decline in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) despite initially higher levels.
At 2 years, the rate of reoperations was lower for GLP-1 RA users at 5.2% versus 6.9% for non-users.
Users of GLP-1 RA experienced fewer inpatient admissions, with 14.6% compared to 17.2% for non-users.
No significant differences in major medical complications were observed between the two groups.

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BACKGROUND: Cubital tunnel release (CuTR) relieves ulnar nerve compression; however, about 35% of patients who undergo this procedure develop persistent neuropathy and about 7% require revision. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) worsens ulnar neuropathy, whereas glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) may be neuroprotective. We compared short- (90-day) and mid-term (2-year) CuTR outcomes in diabetic patients who did or did not receive perioperative GLP-1 RA treatment.

METHODS: TriNetX identified adults (≥18 years) with T2DM who underwent primary CuTR during the period 2015-2023, and who underwent at least 2 years of follow-up. The experimental cohort had received an active GLP-1 RA prescription at surgery, while the controls had not. Exclusion criteria were T1DM, pancreatitis, multiple endocrine neoplasia 2, systemic steroids, end-stage renal disease, or prior major CuTR. Propensity-score matching (1:1) balanced demographics, body mass index, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), creatinine, and comorbidities. Outcomes were captured using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes.

RESULTS: After matching, 1,766 pairs of patients (mean age, 58 years; 46% female) were analyzed. At 90 days, fewer GLP-1 RA users had emergency-department visits than non-users (8.9% vs. 10.7%, P=0.048). Despite higher HbA1c at each timepoint, GLP-1 RA users showed a larger decline. At 2 years, GLP-1 RA exposure was associated with fewer reoperations (5.2% vs. 6.9%, P=0.028), less frequent neuropathy (23.4% vs. 30.4%, P<0.001), and fewer inpatient admissions (14.6% vs. 17.2%, P=0.030). Major medical complications did not differ in occurrence between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative GLP-1 RA therapy in diabetic patients undergoing CuTR correlated with fewer 90-day emergency visits and lower 2-year risks of revisional surgery and ICD-coded ulnar neuropathy (all-cause, non-adjudicated).. These findings support a potential protective role of GLP-1 RAs in this surgical population. Evidence: III.

Key numbers

8.9%

Emergency Department Visits

Emergency department visits at 90 days post-surgery

5.2%

Revision Surgery Rates

Reoperations at 2 years post-surgery

23.4%

Neuropathy Incidence

Incidence of ulnar neuropathy at 2 years

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Characteristics and outcomes of cubital tunnel decompression in diabetic patients receiving glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists

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