About The Sacroiliac (SI) Joint
The sacroiliac joints, or SI joints, are where the sacrum and the ilium bones meet in your pelvis. They are located just below the beltline, on both the left and right side, where the hip meets the tailbone. The primary role of the SI joint is to provide stability and act as a shock absorber for the spine and pelvis. It bears the load of the upper body when you stand, sit, walk, or jump before the forces reach your legs. It is an essential component for energy transfer from the legs and the torso.
What is SI Joint Dysfunction?
Common problems of the sacroiliac joint are often termed sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD). Your physician may also refer to sacroiliac joint pain by other terms, including sacroiliitis, SI joint degeneration, SI joint inflammation, SI joint syndrome, SI joint disruption, SI joint insufficiency, SI joint strain, and arthritis.
SI joint dysfunction generally refers to pain in the sacroiliac joint region caused by abnormal motion in the sacroiliac joint, either too much motion or too little, due to the lack of support from the once strong and taut ligaments. SI joint dysfunction can be caused by injuries, falls, pregnancy, prior lumbar surgery, or inflammatory joint disease. Research suggests the SI joint is the source of pain for up to 30 percent of people with chronic lower back pain (Rashbaum, J Spinal Disord, 2016).
Symptoms of SI joint dysfunction include lower back pain, pain in the buttocks or thighs, and pain that radiates down the legs. The pain may worsen with standing or walking and may be relieved by lying down. Other symptoms can include stiffness and a burning sensation in the pelvis.
Diagnosing sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction is a detailed process that requires a combination of clinical evaluation, diagnostic tests, and patient history to accurately identify the source of pain. This multifaceted approach ensures that the diagnosis is precise, allowing for targeted treatment plans that address the specific needs of each patient.
The most common conservative treatments for SI joint pain/dysfunction include physical therapy, oral pain medicines, steroid injections, and nerve ablation. Patients who have not responded sufficiently to conservative treatments may be candidates for interventional joint stabilization and fusion with the LinQ procedure.
The LinQ SI Joint Stabilization System is designed to address the challenges associated with sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction, a condition that affects a significant number of patients, causing chronic pain and limiting mobility. LinQ is a simple, safe, and clinical evidence backed allograft implant, roughly the size of an almond. The entire procedure is done through a single, small incision on the back near the buttocks. It is designed to help patients immediately regain stability in the SI joint and reduce pain while creating an ideal environment for long-term fusion.
There are four steps to the LinQ procedure:
ACCESS: Under X-ray guidance, a small guide pin is advanced into the joint.
DILATE: A tapered dilator is advanced down the pin to gently open the joint.
DECORTICATE: A shaving instrument is inserted to prepare the bone surface and trigger the body's natural healing response.
DELIVER: The implant is filled with bone graft to facilitate fusion, and then placed under compression to stabilize the joint.
The LinQ system offers several clinical advantages over lateral screw or rod-based surgery, including: