The Sacroiliac Joint: A Current State-of-the-Art Review.

JBJS Rev · Feb 01 2024 · Review

Polly DW

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

Spine

SUMMARY — THE REDUCTIONThis state-of-the-art review confirms the sacroiliac joint as an underrecognized cause of low back pain, noting nonoperative care as first-line but citing trial evidence that surgical fusion offers cost-effective, significant benefit in well-selected chronic cases.
Abstract, as published

» The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is a common cause of low back pain and should be included in the differential diagnosis.» Nonoperative treatment of sacroiliac pain is always the first line of therapy; however, when it is unsuccessful and becomes chronic, then recurrent nonoperative treatment becomes expensive.» Surgical treatment is cost-effective in appropriately selected patients. High-quality clinical trials have demonstrated statistically and clinically significant improvement compared with nonsurgical management in appropriately selected patients.» Spinal fusion to the sacrum increases degeneration of the SIJ and frequency of SIJ pain.

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