SI Joint Instability

The sacroiliac joints (also known as the SI joints) are among the most stable in the body. When back pain is coming from these joints, they frequently can be rehabilitated with physical therapy and other conservative modalities, and surgery is not needed.

If all other causes of pain are ruled out and surgery is required, there are several minimally invasive techniques to fuse one or more of the SI joints. It is important, however, to be carefully evaluated for the possibility of having Bertolotti’s syndrome if you have lumbosacral transitional anatomy. Many patients who have undergone SI joint fusions and have persistent back pain have Bertolotti’s syndrome, which is treated through a completely different approach.