title: One-year outcomes after minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion with a series of triangular implants: a multicenter, patient-level analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Center for Spinal Stenosis and Neurologic Care, Lakeland, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sachs
authors.affiliation: SI-BONE, Inc., San Jose, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Capobianco
authors.affiliation: SI-BONE, Inc., San Jose, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cher
authors.affiliation: Montgomery Spine Center, Montgomery, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.affiliation: Brazos Spine, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Mukund
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gundanna
authors.affiliation: SSM Orthopedics, Wentzville, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Graven
authors.affiliation: UCLA Spine Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA.
authors.forename: A Nick
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Shamie
authors.affiliation: Community Neurosurgical Care, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cummings
keywords: SI joint fusion; arthrodesis; minimally invasive surgery; previous spine surgery; sacroiliac joint