EFFECTIVENESS OF SACROILIAC JOINT INJECTION BLOCK IN IMPROVING PAIN IN SHORT AND LONG-TERM TERMS

Abstract

Background: Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is a frequent but often underrecognized cause of chronic low back pain, leading to functional limitation and impaired quality of life. Conventional conservative management strategies frequently provide inadequate symptom control. Sacroiliac joint injection has emerged as a minimally invasive therapeutic option; however, evidence from South Asian populations remains scarce. Objective: To evaluate the short-term effectiveness of sacroiliac joint injection in reducing pain intensity and improving functional disability among patients with clinically diagnosed sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Study design: Quasi-experimental study. Settings: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital, Gujrat. Duration of study: 4 March 2025 to 4 June 2025. Methods: Sixty adult patients aged 30 to 70 years with clinically diagnosed sacroiliac joint dysfunction were enrolled using non-probability consecutive sampling. Baseline demographic data, comorbidities, and clinical characteristics were recorded. Pain intensity and functional disability were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale and the Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire, respectively. All participants received a standardized sacroiliac joint injection under aseptic conditions. Pain scores were reassessed at 1 hour, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks following the intervention, while functional disability was reassessed at 4 and 8 weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Paired t-tests were applied to evaluate changes over time, and stratified analyses were performed to assess the influence of selected clinical variables on treatment response. Results: The mean age of participants was 49.2 ± 10.6 years, with females comprising 55 percent of the sample. Mean Visual Analogue Scale scores decreased significantly from 7.1 ± 1.2 at baseline to 3.2 ± 1.3 at 1 hour post-injection and remained improved at 4 weeks (3.8 ± 1.4) and 8 weeks (3.9 ± 1.5), with p < 0.001 for all comparisons. Functional disability also improved significantly, with mean Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire scores declining from 14.0 ± 3.8 at baseline to 9.5 ± 3.6 at 4 weeks and 9.7 ± 4.0 at 8 weeks (p < 0.001). Stratified analysis demonstrated greater improvement in patients with symptom duration of six months or less, whereas the presence of osteoarthritis was associated with reduced treatment response. Age, gender, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension did not significantly influence outcomes. Conclusion: Sacroiliac joint injection is an effective, minimally invasive intervention that provides significant short-term pain relief and functional improvement in patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Patients with shorter symptom duration derive greater benefit, while coexisting osteoarthritis may limit therapeutic response. These findings support the clinical utility of sacroiliac joint injections in routine orthopedic practice.