Sacroiliac Fusion: A Minimally Invasive Joint Surgery That Can Ease Your Back Pain

You have lower back and even hip or groin pain that doesn’t stop when you stand, walk, or move from sitting to standing or vice versa. You may avoid climbing stairs. If the diagnosis reveals that your pain stems from your sacroiliac joint, and you’ve tried conservative treatments but they don’t work, you’re likely considering surgery. Modern surgical techniques have made sacroiliac joint surgery a minimally invasive procedure. 

Double-board certified physician Dr. R. James Warren leads Apollo Pain Management in Sun City Center, Florida. The qualified staff at Apollo Pain Management perform minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion and other minimally invasive pain management procedures when other modalities are not sufficient to relieve patient pain. 

What is the sacroiliac joint?

Your sacroiliac joints connect your spine to your hips. The sacrum is the large triangular bone at the end of your spinal column, and the ilia are the large bones in your hips. The sacrum is the anchor between your torso and the lower part of your body, helping to hold you up. It absorbs the shocks when you walk or run. The sacroiliac joints on the left and right sides of the sacrum connect the sacrum to the ilium bones in your hips, giving you stability. 

Why do I have sacroiliac joint pain? 

Sacroiliac joint pain is the culprit in about 15 to 30 percent of lower back pain cases, according to some studies. Your pain could be caused by degenerative joint disease or a previous surgery. 

Your pain may be the result of osteoarthritis of the sacroiliac joints. These joints support the upper part of your body when you’re standing; if you’re overweight or obese, you’re putting extra stress on them. As with other joints in your body, they’re subject to wear and tear. 

On the other hand, your issue might stem from a prior surgery. If you’ve had previous back problems and have had lumbar spinal fusion, you’re at increased risk for sacroiliac joint pain. 

If you’ve been diagnosed with sacroiliac joint disruption, your joint may have been harmed by the trauma of an injury; the joint may have loosened from the bones and ligaments surrounding it. Alternatively, your pain could also result from too little movement of the joint or severe joint inflammation. 

Do you have children? Pregnancy creates a risk for sacroiliac joint pain; your pelvic structure changes with pregnancy and childbirth. 

What happens during minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion? 

During this procedure, the surgeon enters through the top part of the buttocks, making one or two tiny incisions. Your physician uses X-rays to see exactly where to place implants to stabilize the joint. He drills small openings in the sacrum and ilium and clears away damaged cartilage. Then he places one or two bone grafts into the sacroiliac joint. As healing takes place, your sacrum and ilium fuse. 

Benefits of minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion

Modern minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion has the benefits you’re looking for. 

Pain relief

Numerous studies show that this procedure yields satisfactory pain relief.  

Small incisions

You won’t have a six to eight-inch scar; your incisions will be nearly invisible; plus, they’re on your buttocks.

Few complications 

Studies on this procedure show a very low rate of complications. It’s a safe procedure. 

If you have sacroiliac or other types of pain, request an appointment at Apollo Pain Management today.