Patient Information Resources


Spine Institute
Glendale Adventist Medical Center
1500 E. Chevy Chase Drive, Suite 401B
Glendale, CA 91206
Ph: (818) 863-4444






Spine - Cervical
Spine - General
Spine - Lumbar
Spine - Thoracic

View Web RX

« Back

I had a lumbar fusion at L5S1 and ended up with problems in the sacroiliac joint on both sides. My low back pain is better but now I have SI pain. Is this a typical response after surgery?

Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction is common in adults even without a spinal fusion. As many as 40 per cent of the "normal" adult population have SI joint changes observed on CT scans.

Seventy-five per cent of patients with a lumbar (L45) or lumbosacral (L5S1) fusion develop degenerative changes in the SI joint. The reason for this response is probably related to the location of the sacrum at the bottom of the spine. It is a wedge-shaped bone that sits between the two bones of the pelvis.

The sacrum distributes force transferred to it from the upper body. It is able to withstand six times the amount of shear (side-to-side) force applied to the lumbar spine. But the SI is not as resistant to rotational forces. When the lumbar spine is fused, the shear and rotational forces on the SI joint increase dramatically. This is especially true for anyone who has had a L5S1 fusion.


References:

« Back





*Disclaimer:*The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.


All content provided by eORTHOPOD® is a registered trademark of Mosaic Medical Group, L.L.C.. Content is the sole property of Mosaic Medical Group, LLC and used herein by permission.