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Eur Spine J (2013) 22:871877 DOI 10.1007/s00586-012-2512-8
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Pelvic joint fusions in patients with chronic pelvic girdle pain: a 23-year follow-up
Thomas J. Kibsgrd Olav Rise Einar Sudmann
Britt Stuge
Received: 16 November 2011 / Revised: 11 June 2012 / Accepted: 9 September 2012 / Published online: 23 September 2012 Springer-Verlag 2012
AbstractPurpose Fusion of the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) has been a treatment option for patients with severe pelvic girdle pain (PGP). The primary aims were to evaluate the long-term outcomes in patients who underwent SIJ fusion and to compare 1-year outcomes with long-term outcomes. The secondary aim was to compare patients who underwent SIJ fusion with a comparable group who did not.
Methods This study includes fty patients that underwent SIJ fusion between 1977 and 1998. Function (the Oswestry disability index; ODI), pain intensity (visual analogue scale; VAS) and health-related quality of life (SF-36) were determined according to a patient-reported questionnaire. The questionnaire scores were compared with previously recorded 1-year outcomes and with questionnaire scores from a group of 28 patients who did not undergo SIJ fusion. Results The patients who underwent SIJ fusion reported a mean ODI of 33 (95 % CI 2442) and a mean VAS score of 54 (95 % CI 4663) 23 years (range 1934) after surgery. Regarding quality of life, the patients reported
reduced physical function, but mental health was not affected in the same manner. The patients with successful 1-year outcomes (48 %) retained signicantly improved function and reduced pain levels compared with the subgroup of patients with unsuccessful 1-year outcomes (28 %). The patients who underwent surgery did not differ from the non-surgery group in any outcome at the long-term follow-up.
Conclusions Patients treated with SIJ fusion had moderate disability and pain 23 years after surgery, and the 1-year outcomes were sustained 23 years after surgery. Although many fused patients reported good outcome, this group did not differ from the comparable non-surgical group.
Keywords Sacroiliac joint Pelvic girdle pain
Long-term follow-up Fusion Arthrodesis
Introduction
The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is a source of pain for 1330 % of patients with lower back pain [17] and can become painful following inammatory diseases, metabolic disorders, post-traumatic arthritis, malalignment and infections [2]. The origin and diagnosis of pelvic girdle pain...