A Retrospective Evaluation of Adverse Events in Minimally Invasive Posterior Approach With Bone Allograft in Sacroiliac Joint Fusion.

Introduction: Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction is a significant contributor to chronic low back pain. Between 70% and 85% of people will suffer from low back pain (LBP) at some stage in their lives, and 15%-30% of these individuals will experience pain associated with the SIJ. With the limitations of conservative treatments in addressing the underlying pain and dysfunction, minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion has emerged as a promising intervention. Robust studies targeted towards examining complications associated with posterior approach SIJ fusions are rare; thus, this study aims to assess the incidence of adverse events (AEs) associated with posterior approach SIJ fusions using a cadaveric graft joint stabilization system in a clinical setting.

Methods: A retrospective single-site study was conducted reviewing 260 patients with chronic SIJ dysfunction refractory to conservative management. Patients underwent SIJ fusion using the almond-shaped bone allograft with bone window (LinQ system, Painteq, and Tampa Florida) and were monitored for AEs up to 6 months post procedure. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical generalized linear models were used to analyze the data.

Results: The cohort primarily consisted of females (70.27%) with a mean age of 65.21 years. The incidence of AEs was low, with 2.3% at 3 months and 1.9% at 6 months post intervention. No major serious adverse events occurred related to the surgery. Minor adverse events included superficial infection and limited hematoma. All events resolved without permanent harm. There were no device-related events.

Conclusion: The posterior approach to minimally invasive SIJ fusion using a human bone allograft demonstrates a favorable safety profile with a low incidence of adverse events.