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Outcomes of Intra-articular Steroid Injection Via Ultrasound Guidance Versus Fluoroscopic Guidance in the Sacroiliac Joint in Patients With Sacroiliitis

Outcomes of Intra-articular Steroid Injection Via Ultrasound Guidance Versus Fluoroscopic Guidance in the Sacroiliac Joint in Patients With Sacroiliitis

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07791108
Enrollment
176
Registered
2026-08-27
Start date
2026-08-25
Completion date
2026-10-25
Last updated
2026-08-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Sacroiliitis

Keywords

Sacroillitis, Triamcinolone

Brief summary

Sacroiliitis is a common cause of low back and buttock pain. Intra-articular steroid injection of the sacroiliac joint can provide pain relief and functional improvement. This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the outcomes of ultrasound-guided versus fluoroscopic-guided sacroiliac joint steroid injections in patients with sacroiliitis. The study will evaluate procedural success, pain reduction, and functional improvement using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at follow-up intervals.

Detailed description

The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is increasingly recognized as a contributor to low back pain (LBP), with epidemiological estimates attributing approximately 10-30 % of mechanical low back pain cases to SIJ pathology1. Anatomically, the SIJ is a synovial-type (inferior portion) or syndesmosis-type (superior portion) joint between the sacrum and the ilium, supported by substantial interosseous, posterior and anterior ligaments and innervated by dorsal sacral rami and lower lumbar dorsal rami2. Inflammatory involvement of the SIJ occurs in conditions such as axial spondyloarthritis and may also arise post-traumatically or degeneratively3. NSAIDs and physical therapies are used to treat sacroiliitis. However, intraarticular corticosteroid injections administered locally to the SI joint might result in rapid and significant clinical improvements in extremely painful instances4,5. Fluoroscope guided (FL) is usually employed to increase the precision of this treatment, however CT and MRI have also been used in recent years. These imaging techniques have a number of drawbacks, such as radiation exposure, expense, and the need for suitable infrastructure6. A new alternative technique for guiding SIJ injection is ultrasound (US) guidance. The advantages of US-guided injection over FL include that it eliminates radiation exposure, is more accessible, and is less expensive when used alone. Additionally, the US permits "real-time" visualisation of the injectate distribution and needle tip during injection.7,8.

Interventions

PROCEDUREUltrasound-guided intra-articular steroid injection

Participants will receive intra-articular sacroiliac joint steroid injection under ultrasound guidance. A needle will be advanced under real-time ultrasound guidance to the sacroiliac joint, and 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide mixed with 1 mL 0.25% bupivacaine will be injected.

Sponsors

Allied Hospital Faisalabad
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive intra-articular sacroiliac joint steroid injection either under ultrasound guidance or fluoroscopic guidance. Outcomes will be compared between both groups.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age 18-70 years * Both sexes * Clinical diagnosis of sacroiliitis

Exclusion criteria

* Prior SI joint injection in the past 12 months * Contraindication to corticosteroid injection (systemic infection, local infection, bleeding diathesis, uncontrolled diabetes with HbA1c \>9%, allergy to contrast or steroid) * Radicular or neurogenic pain attributable to lumbar spine or hip pathology * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Severe osteoarthritis or fusion of the SI joint on imaging * Systemic rheumatologic disease requiring systemic biologic therapy (unless stable for \>6 months)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Procedural success rate of sacroiliac joint injectionDuring the procedureSuccessful intra-articular deposition of steroid in the sacroiliac joint confirmed by the respective imaging guidance modality (ultrasound or fluoroscopy).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) ScoreBaseline, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedureSuccessful intra-articular deposition of steroid in the sacroiliac joint confirmed by the respective imaging guidance modality (ultrasound or fluoroscopy).

Countries

Pakistan

Contacts

CONTACTDr.Tahir Aslam Tahir, MBBS, FCPS Orthopedics
tahiraslam398@gmail.com+923004499924

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 28, 2026