Sacro Iliac Joint Pain

The purpose of this study is to evaluate outcomes in patients treated with iFuse INTRA Ti for chronic SI joint pain.

This study aims to evaluate the combined effectiveness of Mulligan mobilization and core strengthening exercises in managing postpartum sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD). Postpartum SIJD is a common condition resulting from biomechanical and hormonal changes during pregnancy, often leading to pelvic instability and pain. Mulligan mobilization, a manual therapy technique, aims to correct joint alignment and restore pain-free movement. For the SIJ, Mulligan MWM aims to correct subtle positional faults or movement restrictions that may cause pain and dysfunction-especially common postpartum due to ligamentous laxity, hormonal changes, and altered biomechanics.The core muscles provide stability to the pelvis and lumbar spine. When these muscles are weak or imbalanced, it can lead to increased strain on the SIJ, contributing to pain and dysfunction. Strengthening the core improves load transfer through the pelvis and enhances neuromuscular control, thereby reducing SIJ stress and symptoms. Core strengthening exercises enhances outcomes by targeting both mechanical alignment and muscular stability. Core strengthening exercises target muscles that support pelvic stability, including the transverse abdominis and pelvic floor. The study hypothesizes that integrating Mulligan mobilization with core strengthening may provide superior outcomes in pain reduction, joint function, and overall quality of life compared to core exercises alone.

The study is an interventional, randomized, open-label (non-blinded), placebo-controlled trial. Preoperatively, patients scheduled for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) will undergo a clinical examination in the Orthopaedic Department. Clinical tests will be performed to confirm sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction on the operated side. In addition, low-dose computed tomography (CT) will be used to assess structural changes in the SIJ. All patients will complete patient-reported outcome measures related to the hip joint, including the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the Harris Hip Score (HHS), as well as SIJ-related assessments, including the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Following THA, patients will be randomly allocated into two groups during their hospital stay. In the intervention group, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) will be injected into the sacroiliac joint, whereas the control group will receive an injection of normal saline. All injections will be performed in the operating theatre. At discharge, patients will be scheduled for follow-up visits at 2, 6, and 12 weeks postoperatively. At each follow-up, patient-reported outcomes will be collected, including WOMAC and HHS for hip function, ODI for SIJ-related disability, and VAS for pain assessment of both the hip and sacroiliac joint.

This study will contribute to the current literature that have compared joint injections with steroid versus ketorolac providing evidence for the use of ketorolac for SI joint pain. Currently steroid is the clinical standard for joint injections, however with repetitive use, steroid injections can damage the joint. Ketorolac is an alternative anti-inflammatory medication that does not cause the same joint damage and at a cheaper cost than steroid. The investigators hypothesize that ultrasound guided SI joint injections utilizing ketorolac provide the same pain relief as corticosteroid SI joint injections measured at 2, 6 and 12 weeks post injection. This would allow more frequent injections to control pain at a decreased cost to the healthcare system.