Sacral insufficiency fracture (SIF) was first recognized by Lourie24). SIF typically presents lower back, pelvis, buttock, or groin pain. It is often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed upon initial examination8,22). SIF contributes to acute, severe low back pain and can occur as a complication of osteoporosis, metabolic disorders, metastatic cancer, or trauma. Prolonged immobilization and hospitalization can cause significant complications in the elderly2). Pelvic insufficiency fractures, including SIF, have a one-year mortality rate of 15%, and 50% of pelvic insufficiency fracture patients do not recover to their pre-fracture state30).

Percutaneous sacroplasty was introduced in 2002 as a minimally invasive treatment for SIF, similar to vertebroplasty14,17). It is indicated as a therapeutic option for pain relief and improved mobility15,19). Most research is limited to technical reports and case series6,9,29). The purpose of this analysis is to investigate the clinical short-term effects of sacroplasty in reducing pain and improving mobility in elderly patients suffering from SIFs.

Approval was obtained from our institutional review board for this study. The study was conducted by prospective data collection. All patients with osteoporotic SIF who underwent sacroplasty between December 2013 and September 2015 were included in this study. All patients underwent preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and radiography, and postoperative MRI or CT. Patients presenting with pathologic fractures were excluded from this study.

Patients reported their pain levels and ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) pre- and post-operatively. Patients reported pain scores on a scale from 1 (best) to 10 (worst) utilizing a visual analogue scale (VAS). Functional state was measured utilizing the Oswestry disability index (ODI). The ODI is comprised of ten items, each of which contain six possible responses. Each item is scored from 0 to 5 points, and the sum of the scores is presented as a percentage (0–100%). ADL questionnaires measuring mobility (ambulating, performing housework, dressing, bathing, transferring from chair, and transferring from bed) were collected. Each ADL was measured on a five-point scale (Table 1). VAS scores were collected preoperatively, and again at one day, one month, and three months postoperatively. ODI scores were collected preoperatively and again at one month and three months postoperatively. ADLs were measured preoperatively and again at three months postoperatively.

Sixteen SIF patients (3 men and 13 women) with a mean age of 77.5 years (58 to 91 years) underwent sacroplasty between December 2013 and September 2015. Eleven SIFs were associated with antecedent trauma, and five developed without trauma (Table 2). SIF presented commonly with low back pain, and buttock and groin pain. Five patients suffered from radicular pain at L5 dermatome and three SIFs were concomitant with lumbar compression fracture. Seven patients presented old thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures. Only two patients took anti-osteoporotic medications. The preoperative mean symptom duration was 31.7 days (1–120 days). Considering radiologic findings and symptomatic lesion, eight SIFs were treated with bilateral sacroplasty and seven were treated unilaterally. The mean preoperative VAS score (mean±standard deviation) was 7.5±0.8. This was significantly reduced postoperatively to 4.1±1.6, 3.3±1.0, and 3.2±1.2 at one day, one month, and three months, respectively (p<0.01; Fig. 2A). The mean ODI score (%) also significantly improved from 59±14 preoperatively to 15.5±8.2 at one month and 14.8±8.8 at three months postoperatively (p<0.01; Fig. 2B). Three months after sacroplasty, all ADL scores significantly improved (p<0.01, Fig. 3). There were no complications associated with sacroplasty. Two cases developed cement anterior leakage through a crack in the fracture; however, the leakage did not cause problems. One patient required opioid analgesics for three months postoperatively. All five patients presenting with preoperative radicular pain reported reduced pain following sacroplasty and nerve root block.

SIF is a stress fracture that occurs when normal stress is applied to decreased bone mass and quality. Osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, long-standing steroid exposure, and pelvic irradiation are associated with SIF. SIF is often underdiagnosed or overlooked, especially when concomitant thoracolumbar fracture is present8,20,22). SIF is difficult to diagnose, although plain radiography will expose cortical disruption or fracture line. Coronal and axial CT scan images help to visualize fracture lines. MR image and bone scintigraphy with technetium Tc99 m-labeled MDP are the most sensitive examinations7,27). As found in our study, coronal short tau inversion recovery (STIR) MR image demonstrates a high intensity lesion in the early detection of bone marrow edema in SIF (Fig. 4)18). Bone scintigraphy shows H-shaped uptake and has 96% sensitivity for SIF with 92% positive predictive value16).

In general, bed rest and pain management are regarded as standard treatments of SIF. Under these prescribed treatments, SIF may require up to 12 months to heal23). However, prolonged immobilization in old age gives rise to cardiovascular complications, pressure ulceration, bone loss, and muscle wasting. Many patients do not recover to their previous functional state2,28,30,32).

Percutaneous sacroplasty is indicated as a minimally invasive treatment for SIF (as is vertebroplasty for osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture) and provides significant pain reduction and early and improved mobility. Sacroplasty can be performed under fluoroscopy or CT. Although CT guidance provides precise targeting and accurate needle placement by visualizing the bony complex, it cannot reflect real-time imaging nor absolutely prevent extravasation during the procedure.

The two techniques of sacroplasty are indicated depending on needle placement. Our study employed the short axis technique through the posterior approach. This technique is performed utilizing the S1 pedicle lateral margin or the S1 foramen bony margin with lateral divergence under fluoroscopy (Fig. 4). The ideal target zone is defined as the intersection of lines from the corners of S121). Combining a CT and conventional radiography provides precise needle placement and continued assessment of cement injection. A second approach, the long axis technique, disperses bone cement upon zone I of the sacral fracture laterally to the sacral neural foramen in a caudal-cephalad direction (Fig. 5). The entry point is the midpoint between the inferior margin of the SI joint and the lateral margin of the S3 or S4 neural foramen. The needle projects along the fractures of the sacral ala to decrease the risk of cement extravasation by inadvertently breaching the anterior cortex12,29).

Sacroplasty provides significant pain reduction, and early and improved mobility. Opioid usage decreases in relation to pain reduction. Most studies reveal short-term analgesic effects19). Frey et al.15) reported 80% pain reduction at two weeks postoperatively and 90% pain reduction at 12 months after sacroplasty for SIF. A majority of symptoms including back, buttock, groin, and inguinal pain improved, as well as radicular pain caused by irritation of L5 exiting nerve root due to sacral ala fracture. CT-guided sacroplasty reports a 76% decrease in pain and a 60% decrease in opioid usage13). Balloon-assisted sacroplasty may prevent polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) migration, as kyphoplasty does for vertebral compression fracture11). In metastasis, multiple myeloma, and pelvic radiation necrosis as well, sacroplasty can provide pain relief4,10,25).

Biomechanical effects of sacroplasty include a 40–60% reduction in strains locally around PMMA1). On finite element analysis, sacroplasty decreased maximal stress at the point of sacral fracture by 83% and fracture gap micromotion by 48%31). The strength and stiffness bore no significant difference, regardless of the volume or location of PMMA26). In our study, the mean amount of PMMA was 2.3 mL in each site.

PMMA leakage caused by breach of cortical bone due to PMMA needle or crack of the fracture site is a major concern. It is difficult to distinguish from ala bony shadow on lateral radiography imaging. Preoperative measurement of the distance between the target and anterior cortex is important. Leakages noted by various authors report 27% PMMA leakage into the fracture gap, 6% into veins, 3% into the neural foramen, and 2% into the disc space5). In one patient, it was reported that PMMA leakage lead to radicular pain, which was caused by the affected L5 nerve root. S1 radiculopathy due to extravasation into the S1 neural foramen has been reported3). Injection of contrast media helps recognize the location of the needle tip within the bone marrow so that the surgeon may avoid the neural foramen and SI joint. According to the literature, most of the small amount PMMA leakages were clinically insignificant.

This study employed a small sample size. The effectiveness of sacroplasty for SIF may be measured more clearly employing a control group that has first undergone conservative treatments.

Percutaneous sacroplasty alleviates pain quickly and improves mobility in patients suffering from SIF, thus improving the quality of life for those patients.