Sacroiliac Joint Fusion

Sacroiliac joint fusion surgery may be recommended to treat sacroiliac joint pain when nonsurgical treatments are ineffective.

The sacroiliac joint is a low-motion joint that connects the hip bones to either side of the sacrum, acting primarily as a shock-absorber between the lower body and torso. This joint can also be thought of as the point where the base of the spine connects to the pelvis. The sacroiliac joint is a combination of a synovial joint and the sacroiliac ligaments.

Dysfunction in the sacroiliac joint (also called the SI joint) can produce significant lower back pain, as well as pelvic, groin, and hip pain. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction can be the result of too much motion, too little motion, or inflammation of the joint.

Several studies have found that 15% to 30% of low back pain comes from the sacroiliac joint. Women who’ve been pregnant have a higher risk for developing SI joint pain due to changes in the pelvis following pregnancy and childbirth. There is compelling evidence that those who have undergone a lumbar spinal fusion are at a heightened risk for SI joint pain.

Sacroiliac joint fusion is always an elective procedure, meaning it is the patient’s decision whether or not to have surgery. There are many factors to consider when deciding to have surgery, including the effectiveness of nonsurgical treatments, if fusion surgery is likely to improve one’s quality of life, and the recovery process necessary after surgery

Resources:

https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/spinal-fusion/what-know-about-sacroiliac-joint-fusion