Clinical Features Requiring Sacroiliac Joint Arthrodesis in Patients with Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Purpose : This study aimed to reveal the clinical features requiring sacroiliac joint (SIJ) arthrodesis, which was performed for patients who complain of severe SIJ pain. Methods : The differences in clinical features between a surgical treatment group (n = 20) and a conservative treatment group (n = 66) were investigated. All patients were definitively diagnosed with SIJ pain by the use of SIJ injections. Results : Six significant features were identified in the surgical treatment group, namely, sitting tolerance (< 15 minutes), walking with a cane, pain in the supine position, pain while lying on the painful side, numbness in the lower limbs, and any accident that induced SIJ pain (P < 0.01). Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that sitting tolerance < 15 minutes (odds ratio : 31.73), pain in the supine position (13.07), and pain while lying on the painful side (18.30) showed a high odds ratio. Conclusions : Sitting tolerance (< 15 minutes), walking with a cane, pain in the supine position, pain while lying on the painful side, numbness in the lower limbs, and a history of any accident that induced SIJ pain may be considered as indicators for surgery after > 6 months of continued substantial conservative treatment.