THE SACROILIAC JOINT IN CHRONIC LOW-BACK-PAIN

Study: Design. This was a cross-sectional analytic study. Objectives. in relation to pain from the sacroiliac joint, this study sought to es tablish 1) its prevalence, 2) the validity of pain provocation, 3) whe ther any arthrographic abnormalities predict a response to joint block , and 4) whether certain pain patterns discriminate patients with this diagnosis. Summary of Background Data. The true prevalence bf sacroil iac joint pain is unknown and despite a plethora of clinical tests, no ne of these tests has been validated against an established criterion standard. To our knowledge, arthrography of the sacroiliac joint had n ever been studied. Methods. Forty-three consecutive patients with chro nic low back pain maximal below L5-S1 were investigated with sacroilia c joint blocks under image intensifier using radiographic contrast fol lowed by 2% lignocaine. Information was obtained on pain provocation, analgesia, and image pattern. Results. Thirteen patients (30%) obtaine d gratifying relief of their pain. Nine of these also exhibited tears of their Ventral capsule. Groin pain was the only pain referral patter n found to be associated with response to sacroiliac joint block. C Co nclusion. The sacroiliac joint is a significant source of pain in pati ents with chronic low back pain and warrants further study.