Does Implant Removal Across the Sacroiliac Joint Improve Pain and Outcomes?

Abstract

Objectives: 

To determine if removal of previously inserted iliosacral screws improved posterior pelvic pain and Short Musculoskeletal Form Assessment (SMFA) scores.

Design: 

Retrospective database review.

Setting: 

Level-1 trauma center.

Patients/Intervention: 

Twenty-five patients who underwent iliosacral screw removal.

Main Outcome Measure: 

SMFA score.

Results: 

Eighty-eight percent of patients stated that they were satisfied with the procedure and would undergo screw removal again. SMFA functional and bothersome scores decreased (improved) after the screw removal procedure, both at 3 months and at the final follow-up. Two-eight percent of the patients required narcotics before surgery compared with 8% after screw removal. No surgical complications occurred during screw removal.

Conclusion: 

A select group of patients who have symptomatic screws across the sacroiliac joint may benefit from elective screw removal.

Level of Evidence: 

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.