Sacroiliac joint debridement: a novel technique for the treatment of sacroiliac joint pain.
OBJECTIVE
This study was a retrospective analysis of 38 patients who underwent sacroiliac joint debridement (SJD) as a treatment for confirmed sacroiliac joint (SI joint) pain.


BACKGROUND
This is a new, unpublicized, minimally invasive (we define minimally invasive as a surgery with an incision of less than 1 inch) surgical technique. There are no prior studies on this surgery, but the surgery is compared to SI joint fusion surgery, which offers a success rate of 50-70% in larger studies.


METHODS
Thirty-eight patients with confirmed SI joint pain via a preoperative modified SI joint injection underwent SJD. These patients were followed up at 12-month intervals to determine their degree of pain relief from this surgery.


RESULTS
Of the 38 patients, 61% of these patients had 50-100% reductions of their VAS and 53% had >75% improvement for >2 years. No complications were noted. Histology sections of the removed tissues revealed a non-inflammatory degenerative musculo-tendinous tissue similar to a chronic tendonitis.


CONCLUSIONS
SJD is a reasonable treatment option for SI joint pain, which has a low complication rate and a success rate similar to SI joint fusion. Sacroiliac joint pain may be related to a degenerative musculo-tendinous condition of the surface of the joint on the iliac side.
Haufe
Scott M W
SM
Pain Management and Anesthesiology, MicroSpine Center, DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32435, USA.
Mork
Anthony R
AR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods*; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012446:Sacroiliac Joint / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*