Improved Outcomes with Concurrent Instrumentation and Fusion of the Sacroiliac Joint in Patients with Long Lumbosacral Constructs

Study Design: Retrospective Cohort Study Objective: Spinal fusion, specifically constructs connected to pelvic bones, has been consistently reported as a predisposing factor to sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain. The aim of this study is to compare SIJ outcomes in patients with constructs to the pelvis following instrumentation vs instrumentation plus fusion of the SIJ. Methods: Data of study subjects was extracted from a prospectively maintained database as well as retrospectively collected from records at a tertiary academic medical center in the United States between 2018 and 2020. Results: A cohort of 103 patients was divided into 2 groups: 65 in Group I [S2AI screw without fusion device] and 38 in Group 2 [S2AI screw with fusion device]. None of the patients in Group 2 developed postoperative SIJ pain compared to 44.6% in Group I. Sacroiliac joint fusion occurred in all Group 2 but none of Group I patients. The postoperative Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for lower extremity (LE) pain (.8 vs .5; P = .03) and postoperative Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) (18.7 vs 14.2; P < .01) were significantly higher in Group I. The rate of distal junctional break, failure, and/or kyphosis (DJBFK) and time to DJBFK were not significantly different between the two groups, and the rate of DJBFK did not change in the presence of multiple covariates. Conclusion: The SIJs carry the heavy load of long lumbosacral fusion constructs extending to the pelvis. Simultaneous SIJ instrumentation and fusion decreases the risk of disability, prevents the development of postoperative SIJ pain, and may also protect the S2AI screw from loosening and failure.

Automated summary

This study compared the outcomes of patients with constructs connected to the pelvis and patients with additional SIJ fusion following instrumentation. The results showed that simultaneous SIJ instrumentation and fusion can reduce disability risk, prevent postoperative SIJ pain, and protect the screws from loosening and failure.