PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Martin, Christopher T.
AU  - Haase, Lucas
AU  - Lender, Paul A.
AU  - Polly, David W.
TI  - Minimally Invasive Sacroiliac Joint Fusion: The Current Evidence
AID  - 10.14444/6072
DP  - 2020 Feb 01
TA  - International Journal of Spine Surgery
PG  - S20--S29
VI  - 14
IP  - s1
4099  - https://www.ijssurgery.com/content/14/s1/S20.short
4100  - https://www.ijssurgery.com/content/14/s1/S20.full
SO  - Int J Spine Surg2020 Feb 01; 14
AB  - Background: Fusion of the sacroiliac (SI) joint as a treatment for low back pain remains controversial. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the current literature and clinical outcomes of SI joint fusion surgery.Methods: We conducted a literature review and included studies with the term “sacroiliac joint fusion” that had at least 12 months of clinical follow-up, reported on minimally invasive techniques, and included patient-reported outcome measures.Results: Two approach types (dorsal and lateral) and numerous different implant manufacturers were identified. Most studies included level 4 data, with a small number of level 2 prospective cohort studies and 2 prospective level 1 studies. Every reviewed study reported clinical benefit in terms of improved pain scores or improvement in validated disability measures. Complication rates were low.Conclusions: Minimally invasive SI joint fusion provides clinically significant improvement in pain scores and disability in most patients, across multiple studies and implant manufacturers.Level of Evidence: 5Clinical Relevance: Emerging evidence in support of SI joint fusion indicates that clinicians should examine the SI joint and include SI joint pain in their differential diagnosis for low back pain patients.