Long-Term Mechanical Problems After Lower Back Fusion Surgery in Patients Taking Tirzepatide Compared to Other Diabetes Drugs

Tirzepatide was associated with significantly lower rates of pseudoarthrosis and instrumentation failure at two and three years post-lumbar fusion.

• Ninety-day medical complications, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits were similar between patients on tirzepatide and non-tirzepatide GLP-1 RAs.
• At one year, rates of pseudoarthrosis (3.0% vs 3.8%), instrumentation failure (1.4% vs 1.7%), and revision surgery (1.3% vs 1.3%) were comparable between the groups.
• By two years, tirzepatide use was linked to lower rates of pseudoarthrosis (3.1% vs 5.5%) and instrumentation failure (1.5% vs 3.5%).
• At three years, rates of pseudoarthrosis (3.1% vs 6.0%) and instrumentation failure (1.6% vs 3.7%) remained significantly lower in the tirzepatide group.
• Revision surgery rates did not differ significantly between the two groups at any follow-up point.

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