II. Epidemiology
- Prevalence: 25% of Low Back Pain in adults
- More common in women
III. Risk Factors
- Women
- Increased sacroiliac joint mobility and secondary strain
- Pregnancy and Postpartum State also increase the risk of SI Joint Dysfunction
-
Rheumatologic Conditions
- Osteoarthritis
- Spondyloarthropathy (e.g. Ankylosing Spondylitis)
- Posttraumatic Arthritis
- Preexisting structural abnormalities
- Pubic Symphysis abnormalities (e.g. laxity)
- Leg Length Discrepancy or pelvic asymmetry
- Distinguish from Functional Leg Length Discrepancy due to SI Joint Dysfunction
- Hypomobility of the SI Joint
- Hypermobility of the SI Joint
-
Trauma
- Sudden drop of leg on unlevel ground
- Heavy lifting
- Fall onto buttocks
- Motor Vehicle Accident
- Torsional forces at Pelvis (e.g. football, gymnastics, golfing)
IV. Pathophysiology
-
Bony Pelvis is tightly bonded at 3 joints (2 SI joints and Symphysis Pubis)
- Sacroiliac joint functions as a shock absorber for axial loads on the Lumbar Spine
- Lumbar Spine transmits axial load forces to the lower extremities via the sacroiliac joint when bending
- Anterior and posterior ligaments supporting the SI joint tend to allow minimal laxity normally
- Injury or inflammation of the joint formed between the Sacrum and the ilium
V. Exam
- See Hip Exam
- See Patrick's Test (Figure of Four Test)
- See Low Back Exam
- Observe
- Iliac crests at unequal heights
- Pelvic tilt on standing (asymmetric hip height)
- Function
- Weak gluteus medius
- Tightness of iliopsoas Muscle, piriformis Muscle, hamstring Muscles
- Functional Leg Length Discrepancy
- Provocative: General
- Tenderness on palpation of SI joint (esp. inferomedial aspect of posterior superior iliac spine)
- See Patrick's Test (Figure of Four Test)
- One Legged Hyperextension
- Provocative: Cluster of Laslett SI Joint Provocative Maneuvers
- General
- Laslett maneuvers are considered positive if 4 of 5 maneuvers produce pain at the affected SI Joint
- Video
- Gaenslen Test
- See Gaenslen Test
- Thigh Thrust Test
- Patient supine with Sacrum fixed against table, and hip and knee flexed to 90 on the affected side
- Examiner places one hand on the SI joint and other hand over the top of the knee
- Examiner applies pressure down onto the knee into the affected hip, towards the table
- Distraction Test (Gapping Test)
- Patient lies supine on table, with examiner with hands over bilateral, lateral aspect of Pelvis
- Apply posterior force into each anterior superior iliac spine against the table
- Compression Test
- Patient lies on their side, and examiner places hands over the lateral hip and Pelvis
- Examiner applies compression force to the iliac crest and into the table
- Sacral Thrust Test
- General
VI. Symptoms
- Low Back Pain localized to the SI joint (lateral to midline)
- Pain may be referred into the leg
- Provocative activities
- Climbing or descending stairs
- Jogging uphill
- Jumping (pain on landing)
- Prolonged sitting or standing
- Weight applied to the affected side or lying on the affected side
VII. Signs
- Focal tenderness over the SI Joint
- One Legged Hyperextension Test
- Figure of Four Test (Patrick's Sign, FABER Test)
- Functional Leg Length Discrepancy
VIII. Differential Diagnosis
- Lumbar Disc Disease with radiculopathy
- Lumbar facet syndrome
- Seen in older patients, especially on hyperextension
- Musculoskeletal Low Back Pain
- Femoral Acetabular Impingement
- Hip Joint locking or clicking
-
Ischiofemoral Impingement
- Snapping Hip with Hip Pain
-
Piriformis Syndrome
- Pain at buttocks radiating into posterior leg, especially on sitting
- Pudendal nerve irritation
- Pain in perineum or Scrotum, especially with sitting
-
Fractures (e.g. Pelvic Bone)
- Consider in Osteoporosis or Trauma
- Bony neoplasm
- Septic Sacroiliitis (emergency)
- Presents with fever, limp and SI joint region pain
- Most common in children 0.5 to 4 years old and in adolescents
- Spondyloarthropathy causing Sacroiliitis
IX. Imaging
- Normal in most cases (unless underlying Spondyloarthropathy)
X. Management
- NSAIDs
- Physical therapy with mobilization techniques
- Perform manipulation in 2 sessions over 2 weeks
- Most effective for longterm relief if combined with Stretching Program below
- Javadov (2021) Pain Physician 24(3): 223-33 [PubMed]
- Pelvic girdle Stretching and strengthening program (see video below under resources)
- Iliopsoas muscle Stretching
- Piriformis muscle Stretching
- Thoracolumbar fascia Stretching
- Indicated if tightness on forward flexion
- Treated with foam roller and deep tissue mobilization
- Evaluate and treat with Core Muscle Exercises for abdominal Muscle or Pelvic Floor Muscle Weakness)
- Evaluate and treat Ipsilateral gluteal Muscle Weakness
- Evauate and treat contralateral latissimus Muscle Weakness
- Other measures in specific cases
- Consider differential diagnosis (including Spondyloarthropathy)
- Pelvic belts
- Consider for SI Joint stabilization in peripartum patients
- Mens (2006) Clin Biomech 21(2): 122-7 [PubMed]
- Pain Management and Surgical Management Interventions in Refractory Cases
- SI Joint Corticosteroid Injection
- Indicated in refractory cases or Sacroiliitis
- Simopoulos (2015) Pain Physician 18(5): E713-E756 [PubMed]
- Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation (Radiofrequency Neurotomy)
- Ablation at L4 and L5 Medial Branch, and lateral sacral branches
- Chen (2019) Medicine 98(26): e16230 [PubMed]
- Cohen (2008) Anesthesiology 109(2): 279-88 [PubMed]
- SI Joint Fusion (Sacroiliac Arthrodesis)
- Consider if refractory to all other measures
- Buchowski (2005) Spine J 5(5): 520-8 [PubMed]
- SI Joint Corticosteroid Injection
XI. Resources
- Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Self Treatment (Bob and Brad)
XII. References
- Madden (2010) Netter's Sports Medicine, Elsevier, Philadelphia, 402-3
- Newman (2022) Am Fam Physician 105(3): 239-45 [PubMed]
Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)
Related Studies
Concepts | Pathologic Function (T046) |
SnomedCT | 29885006 |
English | Instability of sacroiliac joint, Sacroiliac instability, Sacroiliac joint unstable, Sacroiliac instability (disorder), instability; joint, sacroiliac, instability; sacroiliac, joint; instability, sacroiliac, sacroiliac; instability |
Dutch | gewricht; instabiliteit, sacro-iliacaal, instabiliteit; gewricht, sacro-iliacaal, instabiliteit; sacro-iliacaal, sacro-iliacaal; instabiliteit |
Spanish | articulación sacroilíaca inestable, inestabilidad de la articulación sacroilíaca (trastorno), inestabilidad de la articulación sacroilíaca, inestabilidad sacroilíaca |
Ontology: Sprain of sacroiliac ligament (C0434473)
Concepts | Injury or Poisoning (T037) |
ICD9 | 846.1 |
ICD10 | S33.6 |
SnomedCT | 157309002, 262997006, 209555002, 12519004 |
English | Sacroiliac (ligament) sprain, SIJ - Sprn lig sacro-iliac jt, Sacroiliac sprain NOS, Sprain lig sacroiliac joint, SIJ - Sprain sacroiliac joint, sprain of sacroiliac ligament, sprained sacroiliac ligament, sprain of sacroiliac ligament (diagnosis), Sprain sacroiliac, sacroiliac joint sprain, sacroiliac sprained, sprain sacroiliac, Sprain;sacroiliac, sacroiliac sprain, joint sacroiliac sprains, sacroiliac ligament sprain, Sprain of sacroiliac joint (disorder), Sacroiliac sprain NOS (disorder), Sprain of sacroiliac ligament, SIJ - Sprain of ligament of sacroiliac joint, Sprain of ligament of sacroiliac joint, SIJ - Sprain of sacroiliac joint, Sprain of sacroiliac joint, Sacroiliac sprain, Sprain of sacroiliac ligament (disorder), Sacroiliac ligament sprain |
Dutch | sacro-iliacale verstuiking, sacro-iliacale (ligament)verstuiking |
French | Entorse (ligament) sacro-iliaque, Entorse sacro-iliaque |
German | sakroiliakale Verstauchung, sakroiliakale (Band) Verstauchung |
Italian | Distorsione e distrazione legamento sacroiliaco, Distorsione sacro-iliaca |
Portuguese | Entorse sacroilíaca (ligamento), Entorse sacroilíaca |
Spanish | Esguince sacroilíaco, Esguince (ligamentoso) sacroiliaco, estrema del ligamento sacroilíaco, esguince de ligamento sacroilíaco (trastorno), esguince del ligamento sacroilíaco (trastorno), esguince del ligamento sacroilíaco, esguince de ligamento sacroilíaco, esguince sacroilíaco, SAI, esguince sacroilíaco, SAI (trastorno) |
Japanese | 仙腸(靱帯)捻挫, 仙腸関節捻挫, センチョウジンタイネンザ, センチョウカンセツネンザ |
Czech | Podvrtnutí vazu sakroiliakálního, Blok sakroiliakálního skloubení |
Hungarian | Sacroiliacalis (szalag) húzódás, Sacroiliacalis húzódás |
Ontology: Sacroiliitis (C0574960)
Definition (MSH) | Inflammation of the SACROILIAC JOINT. It is characterized by lower back pain, especially upon walking, fever, UVEITIS; PSORIASIS; and decreased range of motion. Many factors are associated with and cause sacroiliitis including infection; injury to spine, lower back, and pelvis; DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS; and pregnancy. |
Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
MSH | D058566 |
SnomedCT | 55146009, 156620004, 274136001 |
Italian | Sacro-ileite, Sacroileite |
Japanese | 仙腸骨炎, センチョウコツエン |
English | sacroiliitis, sacroiliitis (diagnosis), Sacroiliitis, Sacroiliitides, inflammation of sacroiliac joint, sacroiliac inflammation, sacroileitis, inflammation joint sacroiliac, sacroiliac joint inflammation, inflammation sacroiliac, Sacroiliitis [Disease/Finding], Sacroiliitis (disorder), Sacroiliac joint arthritis, Sacroiliac joint active, Sacroiliac joint inflamed, Inflammation of sacroiliac joint, Sacroiliac joint inflamed (disorder), inflammation; joint, sacroiliac, joint; inflammation, sacroiliac, Inflammation of sacroiliac joint, NOS, Sacroiliitis, NOS, Inflammation of sacroiliac joint NOS |
Czech | Sakroileitida, sakroiliitida |
French | Arthrite sacro-iliaque, Sacro-iliite, Sacroiliite |
German | Sakroiliitis, Sacroiliitis |
Spanish | Sacroileitis, articulación sacroilíaca inflamada, inflamación de la articulación sacroilíaca (trastorno), inflamación de la articulación sacroilíaca, sacroilitis (trastorno), sacroilitis, Sacroileítis |
Russian | СЕПТИЧЕСКИЙ САКРОИЛЕИТ, SEPTICHESKII SAKROILEIT, САКРОИЛЕИТ, SAKROILEIT |
Portuguese | Sacroileíte, Sacroiliite |
Hungarian | Sacroileitis |
Polish | Zapalenie stawu krzyżowo-biodrowego, Zapalenie stawów krzyżowo-biodrowych |
Norwegian | Sakroiliitt, Iliosacralleddsbetennelse, Bekkenleddsbetennelse |
Dutch | gewricht; ontsteking, sacro-iliacaal, ontsteking; gewricht, sacro-iliacaal, sacro-iliïtis |
Ontology: Sacroiliac joint somatic dysfunction (C3472667)
Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
SnomedCT | 471000119102 |
English | Sacroiliac joint somatic dysfunction, Sacroiliac joint somatic dysfunction (finding) |
Spanish | disfunción somática de articulación sacroilíaca, disfunción somática de articulación sacroilíaca (hallazgo) |