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Abstract Background Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain is an under diagnosed source of low back pain due in part to lack of visible pathology on radiographs and symptoms mimicking other back-related disorders. Open SI joint fusion has been performed since the 1920s. This technique has fallen out of favor with the introduction of minimally invasive options. To date there has been no direct comparison between open and MIS SI joint fusion. Methods We conducted a multi-center, retrospective comparative cohort study of patients who underwent SI joint fusion using either an open surgical (OS) technique using a combination of screws and cages or a minimally invasive surgical (MIS) technique with a series of titanium plasma spray (TPS) coated triangular implants. Operative measures including surgical operating time, length of hospitalization and estimated blood loss (EBL) were collected along with demographics and medical history, surgical complications, and 12- and 24-month pain scores. Improvements in pain were compared after matching for age and gender and controlling for a history of lumbar spine fusion using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results Data were available for 263 patients treated by 7 surgeons; 149 patients treated with OS and 114 treated with MIS SI joint fusion. Compared to OS patients, MIS patients were on average 10 years older (mean age 57 vs. 46) and 69% of all patients were female. MIS operative measures of EBL, operating time and length of hospitalization were significantly lower than open surgery (p

Background: Sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion is increasingly used to treat chronic SI joint pain. Multiple surgical approaches are now available. Methods: Data abstraction and random effects meta-analysis of safety and efficacy outcomes from published patient cohorts. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and safety measures were stratified by surgical technique: transiliac, including lateral transiliac (LTI) and posterolateral transiliac (PLTI), and posterior interpositional (PI) procedures. Results: Fifty-seven cohorts of 2851 patients were identified, including 43 cohorts (2126 patients) for LTI, 6 cohorts (228 patients) for PLTI, and 8 cohorts (497 patients) for PI procedures. Randomized trials were only available for LTI. PROs were available for pain (numeric rating scale) in 57 cohorts (2851 patients) and disability (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI]) in 37 cohorts (1978 patients). All studies with PROs showed improvement from baseline after surgery. Meta-analytic improvements in pain scores were highest for LTI (4.8 points [0-10 scale]), slightly lower for PLTI (4.2 points), and lowest for PI procedures (3.8 points, P = 0.1533). Mean improvements in ODI scores were highest for LTI (25.9 points), lowest for PLTI procedures (6.8 points), and intermediate for PI (16.3 points, P = 0.0095). For safety outcomes, acute symptomatic implant malposition was 0.43% for LTI, 0% for PLTI, and 0.2% for PI procedures. Wound infection was reported in 0.15% of LTI, 0% of PLTI, and 0% of PI procedures. Bleeding requiring surgical intervention was reported in 0.04% of LTI procedures and not reported for PLTI or PI. Breakage and migration were not reported for any device. Radiographic imaging evaluation reporting implant placement accuracy and fusion was only available for LTI. Discussion: Literature support for SI joint fusion is growing. The LTI procedure contains the largest body of available evidence and shows the largest improvements in pain and ODI. Only LTI procedures have independent radiographic evidence of fusion and implant placement. The adverse event rate for all procedures was low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary purpose of our study was to assess the influence of modulating sensory input with either transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or self-massage with therapy balls on the maximal range of motion (ROM) about the ankle joint when stretching the calf muscles. We also investigated the influence of these two conditions on the force capacity and force control of plantar flexor muscles. Twenty healthy adults (25 ± 3 yr) performed three sessions of ankle plantar flexor stretching (three stretches of 30 s each): stretching alone (SS), stretching with concurrent TENS (TENS), and stretching after self-massage using therapy balls (SM). TENS was applied for 60 s prior to and during each stretch, and SM was performed for 60 s prior to each of the three stretches. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque and force steadiness at 20% MVC were recorded before and at 15 min after the final stretch. Ankle dorsiflexion ROM was assessed before, after, and at 5, 10, and 15 min after the last stretch. The increase in ROM was greater after SM (24%) than after SS (13%) and TENS (9%;p < .001). Maximal discomfort level (0–10 VAS) during stretching was similar for all conditions. MVC torque increased after SM only (p < .001, Cohen’sD = 1.5): SM, 16%; SS, –1%; TENS, –3%. Force steadiness did not change. The sensory fibres that contribute to stretch tolerance were engaged by self-massage but not by TENS, resulting in greater increases in flexibility and MVC torque after self-massage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relation between clothing and the rate of human decomposition is still unclear despite previous research. Some suggest that clothing accelerates decomposition; others indicate that it may slow decomposition. The use of pig models in many of these studies may contribute to this discrepancy. Here we present the results of a pilot study that examined six clothed human cadavers at the University of Tennessee Anthropology Research Facility for a period of one year and compared observations with those documented for unclothed specimens at the same facility using a decomposition scoring approach along with accumulated degree days (ADD). More ADD were required for clothed specimens to reach later decomposition stages, though differences were not highly significant, suggesting that clothing may slow the rate of decomposition, at least in East Tennessee. The amount of clothing worn appears to have an effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sacroiliac joint (SI) pain is an often-overlooked cause of lower-back pain, due in part to a lack of specific findings on radiographs and a symptom profile similar to other back-related disorders. A minimally invasive surgical (MIS) approach to SI joint fusion using a series of triangular, titanium plasma spray-coated implants has shown favorable outcomes in patients with SI joint pain refractory to conservative care. The aim of this study was to provide a multicenter experience of MIS SI joint fusion using a patient-level analysis. Patients and methods: We report a patient-level analysis from 144 patients with a mean of 16 months postoperative follow-up. Demographic information, perioperative measures, complications, and clinical outcomes using a visual analog scale for pain were collected prospectively. Random-effects regression models were used to account for intersite variability. Results: The mean age was 58 years, 71% of patients were female, and 62% had a history of lumbar spinal fusion. Mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) operative time was 73 minutes (25.4-118), blood loss was minimal, and hospital stay was 0.8 days (0.1-1.5). At follow-up, mean (95% CI) visual analog scale pain scores improved by 6.1 points (5.7-6.6). Substantial clinical benefit, defined as a decrease in pain by .2.5 points or a score of 3.5 or less, was achieved in 91.9% of patients (95% CI 83.9%-96.1%), and 96% (95% CI 86.3%-98.8%) of patients indicated they would have the same surgery again. Conclusion: When conservative measures fail to relieve symptoms resulting from degeneration or disruption of the SI joint, MIS SI joint fusion using a series of triangular, porous, titanium plasma spray-coated implants is a safe and effective treatment option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Surgical revision rate is a key outcome with all permanent implants. The iFuse Implant System(®) is a permanent implant used to perform minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion. The purpose of this study is to determine the surgical revision rate after sacroiliac joint fusion surgery with this system., Methods: Using two internal sources of information, revision surgeries were identified and linked to index surgeries. The likelihood of revision surgery was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier life table approach. Predictors of revision were explored., Results: Four-year survivorship free from implant revision was 96.46%. Revision rate did not differ by sex and was lower for age >65. In all, 24% of revisions occurred within the first 30 days after surgery; 63.5% occurred within year 1. Implant survivorship has improved annually since the device was introduced in 2009., Conclusion: The survivorship rate with this implant is high and improving; the rate is somewhat higher than total hip replacement but lower than that of lumbar spine procedures.