Postoperative care

This chapter discusses postoperative recommendations, including ambulation, wound care, antibiotic guidelines, and follow-up interval, for patients who have undergone open surgical SIJ fusion versus minimally invasive (MIS) SIJ fusion. Postoperative care varies widely based on the surgical approach. In particular, patients undergoing MIS are less likely to be admitted, ambulate sooner, have a shorter period of less stringent restrictions, and have faster wound healing with fewer complications. These benefits are due to a variety of factors including shorter incision length, less tissue disruption, decreased operating time, and less blood loss. This benefit is most pronounced with approaches that do not involve the use of hardware. Patients undergoing open surgery typically progress through a 4- to 5-month phased plan of progressive physical therapy. In contrast, patients undergoing MIS, particularly percutaneous SIJ fusion with bone allograft, are able to ambulate immediately and have a short period of mild restrictions followed by return to normal activity. The advent of new surgical techniques and less invasive solutions for SIJ fusion is leading the way to an easier postoperative recovery period for patients.