One-year outcomes after minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion with a series of triangular implants: a multicenter, patient-level analysis

• Published in: Medical devices (Auckland, N.Z.) Vol. 7; no. default; pp. 299 - 304
• Main Authors: Sachs, Donald, Capobianco, Robyn, Cher, Daniel, Holt, Timothy, Gundanna, Mukund, Graven, Timothy, Shamie, A Nick, Cummings, Jr, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Taylor & Francis Ltd 01.01.2014; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Arthritis; Back pain; Cher; Family medical history; Hospitals; Joint surgery; Medical imaging; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Original Research; Patients; Surgery; Systematic review; Titanium; Transplants & implants; United States > US; sacroiliac joint; SI joint fusion; arthrodesis; minimally invasive surgery; previous spine surgery
• ISSN: 1179-1470; 1179-1470
• DOI: 10.2147/MDER.S56491

Sacroiliac joint (SI) pain is an often-overlooked cause of lower-back pain, due in part to a lack of specific findings on radiographs and a symptom profile similar to other back-related disorders. A minimally invasive surgical (MIS) approach to SI joint fusion using a series of triangular, titanium plasma spray-coated implants has shown favorable outcomes in patients with SI joint pain refractory to conservative care. The aim of this study was to provide a multicenter experience of MIS SI joint fusion using a patient-level analysis. We report a patient-level analysis from 144 patients with a mean of 16 months postoperative follow-up. Demographic information, perioperative measures, complications, and clinical outcomes using a visual analog scale for pain were collected prospectively. Random-effects regression models were used to account for intersite variability. The mean age was 58 years, 71% of patients were female, and 62% had a history of lumbar spinal fusion. Mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) operative time was 73 minutes (25.4-118), blood loss was minimal, and hospital stay was 0.8 days (0.1-1.5). At follow-up, mean (95% CI) visual analog scale pain scores improved by 6.1 points (5.7-6.6). Substantial clinical benefit, defined as a decrease in pain by >2.5 points or a score of 3.5 or less, was achieved in 91.9% of patients (95% CI 83.9%-96.1%), and 96% (95% CI 86.3%-98.8%) of patients indicated they would have the same surgery again. When conservative measures fail to relieve symptoms resulting from degeneration or disruption of the SI joint, MIS SI joint fusion using a series of triangular, porous, titanium plasma spray-coated implants is a safe and effective treatment option.