The sacroiliac joint in chronic low back pain.
METHODS
This was a cross-sectional analytic study.


OBJECTIVE
In relation to pain from the sacroiliac joint, this study sought to establish 1) its prevalence, 2) the validity of pain provocation, 3) whether any arthrographic abnormalities predict a response to joint block, and 4) whether certain pain patterns discriminate patients with this diagnosis.


BACKGROUND
The true prevalence of sacroiliac joint pain is unknown and despite a plethora of clinical tests, none of these tests has been validated against an established criterion standard. To our knowledge, arthrography of the sacroiliac joint had never been studied.


METHODS
Forty-three consecutive patients with chronic low back pain maximal below L5-S1 were investigated with sacroiliac joint blocks under image intensifier using radiographic contrast followed by 2% lignocaine. Information was obtained on pain provocation, analgesia, and image pattern.


RESULTS
Thirteen patients (30%) obtained gratifying relief of their pain. Nine of these also exhibited tears of their ventral capsule. Groin pain was the only pain referral pattern found to be associated with response to sacroiliac joint block.


CONCLUSIONS
The sacroiliac joint is a significant source of pain in patients with chronic low back pain and warrants further study.
Schwarzer
A C
AC
Faculty of Medicine, University of Newcastle, Australia.
Aprill
C N
CN
Bogduk
N
N
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012446:Sacroiliac Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media