frequent procedures
 

SACROILIAC JOINT INJECTIONS
Sacroiliac joint injection treatment is aimed at altering the pain generated by the inflammatory process or arthritic processes within the sacroiliac joint itself. This pain may be localized in the lower back region, either unilateral or bilateral, or may also result in radicular pain to the lower extremity in these patients. The actual procedure is usually done under fluoroscopic guidance in order to be able to achieve entry of the tiny middle that goes into the sacroiliac joints. The sacroiliac joints are the joints which bears the actual weight of the upper body of the patient, since the lumbar spine supports the weight above the level of the abdomen, and the lumbar spine itself sits on the sacrum, which in turn rests on the sacroiliac joints on the other side, where the sacrum makes contact with the ileum, resulting in the sacroiliac joints. This joint is partly vulnerable to mechanical abnormalities or problems arising especially within the lumbar spine. It is also frequently affected by falls, accidents, and injuries as well. The sacroiliac joint is accessed with a small cannula under fluoroscopic guidance followed by the injection of a contrast material of usually less than 1 cm to define the joint and confirm adequate middle placement. This is then followed by injection of a local anesthetic and the _____mixture (injected). Following this injection, the patient then begins to have both a local anesthetic and a anti-inflammatory affect of which the local anesthetic is quick and results in significant pain relief while the anti-inflammatory affect results in repair of the inflamed synovial tissue and surrounding capsule of the joint.

INDICATIONS:
1. Sacroiliitis (posttraumatic).
2. Sacroiliac joint atrophy.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: In patients who are pregnant or suspected to be pregnant should notify their doctor immediately to avoid exposure to x-rays. Patients who are on blood thinners, or anticoagulant Coumadin or Heparin, should not undergo this procedure without first stopping these anticoagulants for about three days prior to the procedure being done. The patient may resume immediately the anticoagulant at the end of the procedure, on the same day. Patients should continue their other routine medications, including blood pressure medications, or diabetes medications as made appropriate.

COMPLICATIONS: The complication in this procedure is rare. However, infection is possible.

SEDATIVES: Sedatives may be made available to patients on request because of anxiety. Otherwise, the procedure is usually benign, quick, and effective, and does not require anything but simple local anesthetic infiltration to achieve comfort with this procedure.

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