Sacroiliac joint pain post lumbar fusion: A case report

Abstract

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is an often-overlooked cause of chronic lower back pain, with a prevalence of at least a quarter of cases of lower back pain. Diagnosis is challenging due to the broad range of differential diagnoses, requiring a combination of history, physical exams, and special tests such as the Cluster of Laslett. This case report describes a 54-year-old male who experienced SIJ dysfunction following L4-5 and L5-S1 laminectomies, a manifestation of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome. After years of persistent symptoms, the patient was finally diagnosed with SIJ dysfunction using physical tests and diagnostic nerve blocks, leading to successful treatment with therapeutic SIJ injections. This case highlights the importance of considering SIJ dysfunction in patients with FBSS and demonstrates SIJ blocks' efficacy as diagnostic and therapeutic tools.