Authors' recommendations: Low back pain is a significant health problem and one of the leading reasons for physician visits in the United States. The lifetime prevalence of low back pain for adults in the United States is between 60% and 80%. In most cases, low back pain is temporary and can be relieved through rest and conservative therapies such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and an appropriate exercise program. However, for 5% to 10% of patients, low back pain becomes a chronic and disabling condition. Back surgery may be needed if conservative treatments do not provide sufficient relief. The sacroiliac joint (SIJ), located where the spine joins the pelvis accounts for 15% of low back pain. SIJ disease typically presents with unilateral pain in the buttock extending into the lateral thigh. Elderly patients and those with previous lumbar fusion in the low back are at risk for SIJ-related pain. Localizing the source of low back pain to the SIJ is challenging due to its similar symptoms with other lumbar disorders such as disc herniation and lumbar stenosis. Several diagnostic tests or provocative maneuvers are used during physical examination to help localize the pain to the SIJ. Imaging studies generally do not help to localize pain, but can rule out disorders such as fracture, tumor, or spondyloarthropathy. Pain relief following image-guided injection of local anesthetic into the joint is a fairly reliable sign of low back pain related to the SIJ.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2014

URL for published report: The report may be purchased from: http://www.hayesinc.com/hayes/crd/?crd=7856

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: HAYES, Inc.

Contact Address: 157 S. Broad Street, Suite 200, Lansdale, PA 19446, USA. Tel: 215 855 0615; Fax: 215 855 5218

Contact Name: saleinfo@hayesinc.com

Contact Email: saleinfo@hayesinc.com

Copyright: 2014 Winifred S. Hayes, Inc