Conventional Sacroiliac Joint Injection Versus Pulsed Radiofrequency in SIJ Pain

Unlocking Sacroiliac Joint Pain: A Comparative Study of Pulsed Radiofrequency and Conventional Technique

Therapeutic options for SIJ pain include intra-articular corticosteroid injections, which provide symptomatic relief but typically require repeated administration due to variable and short-lived efficacy.

More recently, pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) has been investigated for joint pain management through intra-articular electrode placement and stimulation. However, its effectiveness in treating SIJ pain remains insufficiently studied and warrants further exploration.

Inclusion criteria

• Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ) Pain
• Diagnostic Block Response: Demonstrated a pain reduction of at least 50% following a diagnostic intra- articular SIJ block.
• Failure of Medical Management
• Chronic Pain Duration: Presence of chronic pain for a minimum duration of 6 months.
• Pain Intensity: A pain intensity score greater than 5 on a 10-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), where 0 represents no pain and 10 represents the worst imaginable pain.
• Age: Aged between 18 and 65 years.
• Body Mass Index (BMI): A BMI within the range of 20 kg/m² to 35 kg/m².

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient refusal.
• Local infection at the puncture site.
• Coagulopathies with platelets count below 50,000 or an INR>1.6.
• Unstable cardiovascular disease and Poor general condition and severe respiratory distress.
• History of psychiatric and cognitive disorders or opioid addiction.
• Patients are allergic to medication used.
• Previous surgery to the affected site.
• Rheumatological disease such as rheumatoid arthtritis or ankylsoing spondyolitis.