Study Design. A pain referral map generated from Part I of this study
was tested in 54 consecutive patients. Pain diagrams, completed by eac
h patient, were compared to the map generated from sacroiliac injectio
ns in 10 volunteers (Part I). Two clinicians, blinded to the examinati
on of each individual, selected the diagrams most consistent with the
pain map. Objectives. To determine the applicability of a pain referra
l map as a screening tool for sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Summary of
Background Data. Two independent examiners, blinded to the patients'
examinations, selected 16 individuals whose pain diagrams most represe
nted the map generated in Part I. There was a 100% concordance of pati
ents selected. All 16 patients selected had a provocation-positive SI
joint injection. Ten of these individuals also received lumbar discogr
aphy and lumbar facet injections. Only the SI injection on the symptom
atic side was provocation positive. Methods. Patients selected for eva
luation based on pain mapping received sacroiliac joint injection. Pro
vocation-positive injections were used to confirm the diagnosis of sac
roiliac joint dysfunction. Ten subjects subsequently underwent lumbar
discography and lumbar facet joint injections to further confirm the d
iagnosis. Results. Few studies involving low back pain have used pain
referral maps. In the present study patients were successfully screene
d for sacroiliac joint dysfunction using a pain referral map generated
from provocation of asymptomatic volunteers. Conclusion. Patients can
be successfully screened for sacroiliac joint dysfunction based on co
mparison with a pain referral map. Further study on the false negative
rates of sacroiliac pain maps is needed.