Efficacy of periarticular corticosteroid treatment of the sacroiliac joint in non-spondylarthropathic patients with chronic low back pain in the region of the sacroiliac joint.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of periarticular corticosteroid treatment of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) in non-spondylarthropathic patients with chronic low back pain in the region of the SIJ in a double blind, controlled study.

METHODS: Twenty-four consecutive non-spondylarthropathic patients with chronic pain in the region of the SIJ entered the study. Thirteen patients were treated with a periarticular injection of methylprednisoloneacetate and lidocaine (MP group) of the SIJ, whereas 11 patients received isotonic sodium chloride and lidocaine. Clinical assessment at the onset of the study and after one month included the patient's estimation of pain in the region of the SIJ by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and by a pain index, which was calculated from tenderness and stressing tests on the SIJ.

RESULTS: At the one month's follow-up examination both the VAS (p = 0.047) and the pain index (0.017) had improved significantly in the MP group compared with the non-MP group.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that periarticular injection of methylprednisolone may be effective in the treatment of pain in the region of the SIJ in non-spondylarthropathic patients.