• Ibrahim M Umer, Christopher Gharibo, Sudhir Diwan, and Steve M Aydin.
• Department of Anesthesiology, St. Joseph University Medical Center, Paterson, NJ.
• Pain Physician. 2024 Mar 1; 27 (3): E337E343E337-E343.

BackgroundVertebral compression fractures (VCFs) can affect the entire spinopelvic complex and cause unpredictable patterns of back pain due to their effects on spinal tensegrity and biomechanical compensation. They can lead to significant morbidity and mortality in the aging population and are difficult to diagnose. We aimed to establish a relationship between VCFs and sacroiliac (SI) joint pain.ObjectivesDemonstration of SI joint (SIJ) pain relief at up to 6 months after kyphoplasty (KP) in patients with VCFs and diagnosed SI dysfunction.Study DesignRetrospective study.SettingAll patients were from a private chronic pain and orthopedics practice in the northeastern United States.MethodsFifty-one patients with VCFs diagnosed through imaging and SIJ dysfunction diagnosed through 2 diagnostic SIJ blocks who had failed conservative management were considered for KP. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS 11) scores were recorded at the baseline, after each SIJ block, and at 4 weeks and then 6 months after KP.ResultsForty-nine patients underwent KP. At 4 weeks after the procedure, there was an 84% average reduction in NRS scores from the baseline (P < 0.01). At 6 months after the procedure, there was an 80% reduction in NRS scores from the baseline (P < 0.01).LimitationsLarger sample sizes and a randomized control trial would be important steps in furthering the relationship between VCFs and SIJ.ConclusionVCFs can cause a referred pain pattern to the SIJ that is best treated by KP for long-term management.

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