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Expanding Access to SI Joint Fusion:
What Surgeons and Interventional Pain Physicians Should Know
- Anshul Jain
Founder’s Office, KIC Ventures
This week in Research: I want to share some exciting and important findings from a recent multicenter randomized controlled trial published in The Spine Journal. This study looked at how interventional pain physicians, after specific training by spine surgeons, can safely and effectively perform sacroiliac joint (SIJ) fusion using the Sacrix® titanium triangular implant (STTI).
As you know, SI joint pain is a common cause of lower back discomfort and disability. Traditionally, spine surgeons have performed SIJ fusions, but access can be limited for many patients due to the availability of specialists. This study explored whether trained IP physicians could safely expand access to this treatment.
Here’s what the study found:
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Out of 276 patients who underwent SIJ fusion with the STTI, the overall complication rate was low (3.3%) and the revision rate was just 1.8%.
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Importantly, the trained IP physicians performed with competency comparable to spine surgeons.
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The fact that IP physicians managed most of the revisions highlights their ability to handle complications effectively after training.
What does this mean for you as surgeons and for the broader patient community?
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It shows a promising path to broaden the practitioner base performing SIJ fusion, increasing availability and potentially reducing wait times for patients in need. With structured training led by spine surgeons, interventional pain physicians can safely and effectively perform these procedures, a win-win for patients and providers.
At KIC Ventures, we believe in supporting innovations and collaborations that expand patient care options without compromising safety or quality. This study reinforces the potential for team-based approaches to complex spine care.
I encourage you to consider how expanding procedural competency through focused training programs could benefit your practice and your patients.
Read the original research: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40383200/
Thanks for reading, and as always, feel free to reach out if you want to discuss this further at anshuljain@kicventures.com .