Sacroiliac Joints In Patients Research Articles

Біоелектрична активність м’язів-стабілізаторів крижово-клубового суглоба в пацієнтів з дисфункцією цього суглоба

Мета: дослідження біоелектричної активності (БЕА) м’язів — основних стабілізаторів крижово­клубового суглоба (ККС) і вертикальної пози в умовах двохопорного та одноопорного стояння у хворих з дисфункцією ККС порівняно з БЕА цих м’язів у здорових волонтерів. Матеріали та методи. Досліджено 36 практично здорових волонтерів — студентів факультету фізичної культури та 56 пацієнтів з дисфункцією ККС. Критеріями включення пацієнтів були: локалізація болі в ділянці posterior spinae iliaca superior, що іррадіює в пах, сідниці та стегно; анамнез болю більш ніж 3 місяці; безуспішність попереднього консервативного лікування; позитивні мінімум 4 із 6 провокаційних тестів. Критеріями виключення були позитивні тільки 1 або 2 провокаційні тести. В результаті 50 пацієнтів були включені в дослідження. Пацієнтам та волонтерам проводили електроміографічне дослідження м’язів, що стабілізують ККС. Вивчали біоелектричну активність m. erector spinae, m. obliques abdominis externus, m. gluteus medius, m. rectus femoris, m. biceps femoris у положенні двохопорного та одноопорного стояння (тест Stork). Всі волонтери та пацієнти були обстежені рентгенологічно. На отриманих рентгенограмах вимірювали: кут нахилу крижі, кут нахилу таза, кут ротації крижі; ширину суглобових щілин ККС в трьох відділах (вентральному, медіальному та дорсальному). Отримані результати були оброблені статистично. Результати. В результаті кластерного аналізу всі пацієнти з дисфункцією ККС були поділені на 4 кластери. Для 1­го кластера був характерний високий ступінь асиметрії ширини суглобових щілин у вентральному відділі ККС та невеликий в двох остальних відділах, 2­й кластер характеризувався мінімальним ступенем асиметрії ширини суглобових щілин у всіх відділах ККС, 3­й — високим ступенем асиметрії ширини суглобових щілин у медіальному відділі ККС і невеликим у дор­сальному, а 4­й — високим ступенем асиметрії у дорсальному відділі ККС і невеликим у вентальному та медіальному. Аналіз попарних відмінностей значень відокремлених показників БЕА м’язів з групою умовної норми в міжах кластерних типів повністю відповідав характеристикам кластерів з позицій дисфункції ККС: найбільше відходження від показників БЕА в нормі мали пацієнти 4­го кластера, наступними були пацієнти 3­го, потім — 1­го кластера. У пацієнтів 2­го кластера відмінностей з нормою виявлено не було. Висновки. За допомогою кластерного аналізу було встановлено, що всі пацієнти були розподілені на чотири рентгенометричні кластери, для кожного з яких були характерні свої рентгенометричні параметри. Найбільш несприятливий прогноз із математичної та біомеханічної точки зору мали пацієнти 1, 3, 4­го рентгенометричних кластерів. У цих пацієнтів була асиметрія ширини суглобових щілин ККС в двох відділах. Найбільші відмінності БЕА м’язів­стабілізаторів ККС з показниками БЕА цих м’язів волонтерів мали пацієнти 4­го кластера, наступними були пацієнти 3­го, потім — 1­го кластера. У пацієнтів 2­го кластера відмінностей БЕА цих м’язів від показників БЕА м’язів волонтерів виявлено не було.

The evaluation of bone marrow edema in sacroiliac joint in patients with ankylosing spondylitis using magnetic resonance imaging Dixon sequence

BackgroundBone marrow edema of the sacroiliac joint is the early imaging manifestation, an indicator of inflammatory activity of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (Yang R, et. al. Medicine (Baltimore) 98:e14620, 2019).ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to investigate the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Dixon sequence in the diagnosis of marrow edema of the sacroiliac joint in patients with AS.MethodsForty-five patients with AS admitted in our hospital between November 2016 and February 2019 were selected retrospectively as the case group. Forty-five healthy subjects recruited between November 2016 and February 2019 served as the control group. Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were recorded after admission to the hospital. The Dixon sequence water-fat ratio of the iliac and sacral surfaces of the bilateral sacroiliac joints in the study group were compared with indicators above in order to find the correlation.ResultsThe water-fat ratio under the bilateral sacroiliac joints on Dixon sequence images in the case group was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (P<0.05). The Dixon sequence water-fat ratio of the iliac and sacral surfaces of the bilateral sacroiliac joints in the study group were positively correlated with spinal arthritis research (SPARCC), BASFI and BASDAI score (all P < 0.05), but did not correlate with ESR and CRP.ConclusionThe water-fat ratio of magnetic resonance Dixon sequence can be used as a reference index to evaluate the degree of bone marrow edema in active stage of sacroiliac arthritis.

Quantification of Bone Marrow Edema by MRI of the Sacroiliac Joints in Patients Diagnosed with Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results from the ESPeranza Cohort

Objective: To evaluate whether the quantification of bone marrow edema (BMO) of the sacroiliac (SI) joints by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) improves capacity for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) classification in comparison with the assessment of sacroiliitis by Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) classification criteria. Method: This prospective study from the ESPeranza cohort involved 66 subjects with an available MRI of the SI joints at baseline. This subgroup includes patients with axSpA (n = 28), peripheral spondyloarthritis (n = 10), and other diagnoses that were not spondyloarthritis (n = 28). Measures of diagnostic usefulness [area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, Youden’s J statistic, positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR−)] were calculated for MRI of the SI joints according to ASAS criteria and for MRI quantified by means of SCAISS (Spanish tool for semi-automatic quantification of sacroiliac inflammation by MRI in spondyloarthritis). This analysis was stratified in patients who were human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 positive and negative. Results: The AUC value with BMO quantification was 0.919 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.799–1] for HLA-B27-positive patients and 0.884 (95% CI 0.764–1) for HLA-B27-negative patients. A SCAISS cut-off point of 80 units obtained a specificity of 94.4% and LR+ 7.5, while assessment by ASAS criteria showed a specificity value of 90% and LR+ 6.4. Conclusion: For patients with suspected axSpA, quantification of BMO improves the predictive capacity of MRI of the SI joints, for both HLA-B27-positive and HLA-B27-negative patients.Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) has a dramatic impact on physical function and quality of life (1). Despite its significant impact, patients with axSpA are normally diagnosed several years after presenting symptoms (2). In this respect, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the sacroiliac (SI) joints has gained significance over the past decade, particularly in the early stages of the disease. Nowadays, imaging tests and human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 testing are among the most important diagnostic procedures for patients with suspected axSpA.

MRI contributes to accurate and early diagnosis of non-radiographic HLA-B27 negative axial spondyloarthritis

BackgroundNonradiographic axial spondyloarthropathies (nr-axSpA) are diagnosed by the absence of radiographic sacroiliitis and the presence of bone marrow edema (BME) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). According to the classification criteria of the international Assessment of Spondyloarthritis Society (ASAS), structural changes to sacroiliac joints (SIJs) on MRI cannot be used as criteria in the absence of BME. However, less than half the Asian patients with clinically active axSpA show BME. The incidence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 is low in Asian populations, which makes it more difficult to identify nr-axSpA. We used MRI to evaluate the structural damage to SIJs in patients with nr-axSpA with and without BME with the aim of identifying the best methodology for accurate diagnosis, especially in populations with less common BME and HLA-B27.MethodsOne hundred three patients with inflammatory back pain were included in this prospective study. No patient’s radiograph met the definition of positive modified New York criteria. BME and structural damage to SIJ including sclerosis and erosion were assessed independently on coronal and axial short-tau inversion recovery and T1-weighted spin echo MRI scans by two well-trained musculoskeletal radiologists using the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) score. Demographics of patients were collected. Disease characteristics and structural damage were analyzed in patients with and without BME on SIJ MRI. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the diagnostic performance of structural damage.ResultsAll individuals in the cohort had at least one abnormal finding on SIJ MRI, including BME or structural damage; 36 of 103 patients had BME. We identified a significant positive correlation between SPARCC scores and severe erosion assessed by focal joint space widening (fJSW) (p = 0.001) in these 36 patients. Fifty-eight of the 103 enrolled patients fulfilled the ASAS criteria for nr-axSpA in the either absence or presence of BME. Of these 58 patients, 57 and 19 had erosions or fJSW, respectively, and the presence of BME was significantly correlated with fJSW (phi score of 0.319 and p = 0.015). We demonstrated a significant positive correlation between fJSW and either the presence or the severity of BME in patients with nr-axSpA who met the ASAS definition. There was a positive correlation between BME and fJSW across the whole study cohort (phi score of 0.389; p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for fJSW on SIJ MRI was 0.736, p < 0.001. In both HLA-B27-positive and -negative groups, BME was more common in the presence of fJSW (phi scores of 0.370 and 0.377, p = 0.018 and 0.003, respectively) and SPARCC scores were higher in patients with fJSW (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005). We also identified a positive correlation between fJSW and BME in patients with nr-axSpA and normal serum levels of C-reactive protein (phi score of 0.362 and p = 0.001).ConclusionStructural damage detected on SIJ MRI, sclerosis, erosions and fJSW may be present in patients without detectable inflammation on SIJ MRI. However, fJSW is significantly correlated with the severity of inflammation seen on SIJ MRI, which contributes to the accurate diagnosis of nr-axSpA, and it could be used as an alternative diagnostic test for nr-axSpA in the general population, especially for those who do not carry the HLA-B27 gene, Asian patients without BME, or patients with normal serum inflammatory biomarkers.

Method for Diagnosing the Bone Marrow Edema of Sacroiliac Joint in Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis Using Magnetic Resonance Image Analysis Based on Deep Learning.

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the sacroiliac joints. In this study, we develop a method for detecting bone marrow edema by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the sacroiliac joints and a deep-learning network. A total of 815 MR images of the sacroiliac joints were obtained from 60 patients diagnosed with axSpA and 19 healthy subjects. Gadolinium-enhanced fat-suppressed T1-weighted oblique coronal images were used for deep learning. Active sacroiliitis was defined as bone marrow edema, and the following processes were performed: setting the region of interest (ROI) and normalizing it to a size suitable for input to a deep-learning network, determining bone marrow edema using a convolutional-neural-network-based deep-learning network for individual MR images, and determining sacroiliac arthritis in subject examinations based on the classification results of individual MR images. About 70% of the patients and normal subjects were randomly selected for the training dataset, and the remaining 30% formed the test dataset. This process was repeated five times to calculate the average classification rate of the five-fold sets. The gradient-weighted class activation mapping method was used to validate the classification results. In the performance analysis of the ResNet18-based classification network for individual MR images, use of the ROI showed excellent detection performance of bone marrow edema with 93.55 ± 2.19% accuracy, 92.87 ± 1.27% recall, and 94.69 ± 3.03% precision. The overall performance was additionally improved using a median filter to reflect the context information. Finally, active sacroiliitis was diagnosed in individual subjects with 96.06 ± 2.83% accuracy, 100% recall, and 94.84 ± 3.73% precision. This is a pilot study to diagnose bone marrow edema by deep learning based on MR images, and the results suggest that MR analysis using deep learning can be a useful complementary means for clinicians to diagnose bone marrow edema.

Quantification of bone marrow oedema and fat metaplasia in sacroiliac joints in spondyloarthritis patients using histographic magnetic resonance imaging analysis.

To demonstrate a possible basis for a quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach that uses histographic analysis to determine bone marrow oedema (BME) and fat metaplasia at sacroiliac joints (SIJs) level in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). In this prospective, cross-sectional study, consecutive axSpA patients with inflammatory low back pain underwent 1.5-T MRI. MRI images were scored on a 4-point (0-3) scoring system both for BME and fat metaplasia by two radiologists. A region-of-interest based histographic quantitative analysis was used to assess MRI images. Using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) approach was tested the diagnostic accuracy of histographic analysis for detecting BME vs. BME and fat metaplasia on MRI images. 17 of the 43 patients (39.5%) included only had a BME lesion, while the remaining 26 patients (60.5%) had both BME and fat metaplasia at the SIJ level. Inter-rater agreement between readers was good (weighted kappa 0.643). On MRI images, BME and BME+fat metaplasia showed significant difference in histographic analysis (p<0.001), with an AUC-ROC of 0.898, and an optimal cut-off point of 311 at histographic analysis in the distinction of BME vs. fat metaplasia. Histographic analysis could represent a method for quantifying BME on MRI images of SIJs in patients with axSpA. This type analysis can provide important prognostic information and guide the choice of treatment in patients with sacroiliitis.

Frequency of pertinent MRI abnormalities of the sacroiliac joints of patients without spondyloarthropathies: a systematic review of the literature.

MRI criteria are central to the diagnosis of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthropathy (nr-axSpA). The cardinal feature of nr-axSpa is inflammatory low back pain, which may be difficult to distinguish from highly prevalent non-specific low back pain. This study aims to determine the frequency of relevant MRI findings in the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) of patients without Spondyloarthropathy (SpA), and therefore estimate the specificity of MRI scans for SpA. EMBASE and Medline were searched and limited to English. Titles were screened for relevance, with studies that included primary MRI findings in patients without SpA triggering retrieval. Retrieved papers were reviewed, data extracted by two authors and quality criteria (QUADAS 2) were applied. Findings were considered for asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. The search recovered 2172 articles. Abstracts of 117 were reviewed for full text retrieval, 11 papers met eligibility criteria. These papers described MRI findings of 1180 asymptomatic patients and 1318 with low back symptoms but without SpA. In relevant populations, bone marrow oedema was found in 22% (95% CI 19-25) of asymptomatic and 20% (95% CI 18-22) of asymptomatic individuals. In all non-Spa patients, sclerosis was found in 13.4% and erosions in 6.5%. There is a significant frequency of diagnostically pertinent MRI abnormalities in the SIJ of patients without SpA. These are present in both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. Findings, such as oedema and sclerosis, lack specificity and should be interpreted with caution. Erosions are less frequent and are likely more specific for SpA.

Change in MRI in patients with spondyloarthritis treated with anti-TNF agents: systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is currently the most accurate imaging tool used in axial spondyloarthritis regarding its diagnostic approach. MRI of the spine and sacroiliac joints (SIJ) might be relevant in the follow-up of axial spondyloarthritis for difficult cases, provided that its validity and correlation with clinical, biological and functional outcomes is ascertained. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of TNF alpha inhibitors (TNFi) on MRI scoring of inflammation on spine and SIJ and to evaluate their correlation with the parameters used in daily practice. A systematic review of the literature using PUBMED and the Cochrane library was performed until January 2016. All randomised controlled trials and controlled cohorts reporting the effect of TNFi on spine and SIJ MRI scores [Ankylosing Spondylitis spine MRI (ASspiMRI), Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC), and Berlin] were selected. The collected outcomes were: the change in scores between baseline and follow-up in TNFi and control groups, the correlation of these changes with C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index/Functional Index (BASDAI/BASFI), Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), pain and morning stiffness. When appropriate, statistical analysis determined the pooled therapeutic effect of TNFi on MRI scores computed by meta-analysis. Of 39 screened references, 55 studies were included. In studies using ASspiMRI at 12-week and 2-year follow-up, and in those using SPARCC spine score at 12-week follow-up, a non-significant decrease in MRI score between the TNFi group and control group was reported (p=0.36; p=0.73; p=0.12, respectively). Only a significant decrease in the SPARCC SIJ score was reported at 12 weeks in the TNFi group versus control (p<0.0001). The correlation between MRI spine and SIJ scores on the one hand, and the clinical and biological data on the other was very heterogeneous across the different reports. However, an association was usually reported between the MRI scores and CRP, ESR and ASDAS. There is not sufficient evidence to distinguish the difference between changes in MRI inflammatory lesions of the spine and SIJ in patients with axial SpA related to TNF alpha inhibitor effects and those due to the natural course of the disease activity (alternating periods of flares and remission in axial SpA).

Position-related Change of Pelvic Incidence Depends on the Nonfused Sacroiliac Joint in Patients with Degenerative Spinal Diseases.

A retrospective cross-sectional study. This study aims to determine whether the sacroiliac (SI) joint motion correlated to pelvic incidence (PI) change from standing to supine position in patients with degenerative spinal diseases. PI was found an unstable parameter after adolescence as the fixed nature of PI was challenged by several studies. The SI joint has been shown to have some motion, age-related degenerative changes of cartilage and SI ligaments contribute to SI joint instability. The study contains both specimen study and radiographic study. One human specimen was acquired, on which PI was measured with different sacrum-ilium positions. In radiographic study, patients with old thoracolumbar fracture, lumbar disc herniation, stenosis, and spondylolisthesis were included. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients were also included as control group. PI was measured on standing x-rays and scanogram of computed tomography images in supine position. Specimen study result revealed that SI motion would lead to the change of PI with fixed pelvic thickness. In radiographic study, 101 patients with different etiology and 30 AS patients were included. After stratifying into different age groups, standing PI was significantly larger than supine PI in each age groups (P = 0.002, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively). In patients with degenerative diseases, PI was significantly larger on standing position than that on supine position. ΔPI showed no significant difference across etiologies. However, in AS patients, standing PI and supine PI revealed no significant difference (P = 0.528). Mobile SI joint may be the cause of increased PI in the aging spine. The dynamic change of PI is etiology-independent if the SI joint was not fused. Older patients have greater position-related change of PI.Level of Evidence: 4.

Bone turnover biomarkers, disease activity, and MRI changes of sacroiliac joints in patients with spondyloarthritis.

The lack of valid biomarkers in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) requires searching for additional options to increase sacroiliac joint (SIJ) evaluation effectiveness. We assessed the serum levels of bone turnover markers and their relationships with active and chronic changes in SIJs using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), indices, and laboratory parameters of disease activity in SpA patients. 102 patients with SpA and 15 healthy subjects were included. Testing of serum levels of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β1), Wnt3, sclerostin, and Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) was conducted. Active inflammatory lesions in SIJs were evaluated using Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) MRI SIJ score, and chronic changes using the Danish scoring method. Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Scores with CRP, and ESR were used to assess disease activity. Serum levels of Dkk-1, TGF-β1, and sclerostin were significantly lower in SpA patients compared to healthy controls. The serum levels of Dkk-1 positively correlated with CRP. Dkk-1 had a significant negative correlation with Danish score. The sclerostin serum level had a weak negative correlation with the active inflammatory MRI SIJ lesions. There were positive correlations between TGF-β1 and sclerostin with Dkk-1, and negative correlation between Wnt3 and sclerostin. Dkk-1 positively correlated with CRP and negatively with chronic SIJ changes by Danish score. Sclerostin negatively correlated with the active SIJ lesions by SPARCC. This suggests that Dkk-1 and sclerostin are the most promising candidates to reveal inflammation and bone turnover in patients with SpA.

Sacroiliitis in systemic lupus erythematosus

Although musculoskeletal system involvement is awell-known manifestation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the probability of sacroiliac joint involvement and its effect on patients might be ignored. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between SLE and sacroiliitis and to evaluate the relationship between clinical parameters and sacroiliitis in SLE. The study was designed as acase-control study. A total of 63 patients with SLE and 31 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in the study. The clinical and demographic variables of the study population were documented. The sacroiliac joints of patients and controls were evaluated with sacroiliac magnetic resonance imaging. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B27 was assessed using flow cytometry (Beckman Coulter Navios-model 3, Beckman Coulter Inc., Brea, CA, USA). Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to determine the clinical risk factors related to sacroiliitis. Among the 63patients, acute sacroiliitis was found in 25patients (39.7%) and chronic sacroiliitis was found in 21patients (33.3%). Sacroiliitis was higher in patients than in controls (p = 0.001). Acute sacroiliitis was more frequently observed in patients when compared with the control group (p = 0.001). Higher C‑reactive protein (CRP) concentrations (odds ratio = 1.75, 95% confidence interval: 1.30-2.35; p < 0.001) were found to be arisk factor for acute sacroiliitis. The ratio of sacroiliitis was higher in patients with SLE than in controls. Increased CRP concentrations were determined as arisk factor for acute sacroiliitis. Thus, one should keep in mind that patients with SLE and higher CRP concentrations may have sacroiliitis.

Sacroiliac joint syndrome after lumbosacral fusion

IntroductionOne-third of low back pain cases are due to the sacroiliac (SI) joint. The incidence increases after lumbosacral fusion. A positive Fortin Finger Test points to the SI joint being the origin of the pain; however, clinical examination and imaging are not specific and minimally contributory. The gold standard is a test injection of local anesthetic. More than 70% reduction in pain after this injection confirms the SI joint is the cause of the pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the decrease in pain on a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) after intra-articular injection into the SI joint. We hypothesised that intra-articular SI injection will significantly reduce SI pain after lumbosacral fusion. MethodsAll patients with pain (NRS>7/10) suspected of being caused by SI joint syndrome 1 year after lumbosacral fusion with positive Fortin test were included. Patients with lumbar or hip pathologies or inflammatory disease of the SI joint were excluded. Each patient underwent a 2D-guided injection of local anesthetic into the SI joint. If this failed, a second 2D-guided injection was done; if this also failed, a third 3D-guided injection was done. Reduction of pain on the NRS by>70% in the first 2 days after the injection confirmed the diagnosis. Whether the injection was intra-articular or not, it was recorded. Ninety-four patients with a mean age of 57 years were included, of which 70% were women. ResultsOf the 94 patients, 85 had less pain (90%) after one of the three injections. The mean NRS was 8.6/10 (7–10) before the injection and 1.7/10 after the injection (0–3) (p=0.0001). Of the 146 2D-guided injections, 41% were effective and 61% were intra-articular. Of the 34 3D-guided injections, 73% were effective and 100% were intra-articular. DiscussionThis study found a significant decrease in SI joint-related pain after intra-articular injection into the SI joint in patients who still had pain after lumbosacral fusion. If this injection is non-contributive when CT-guided under local anesthesia, it can be repeated under general anesthesia with 3D O-arm guidance. This diagnostic strategy allowed us to confirm that pain originates in the SI joint after lumbosacral fusion in 9 of 10 patients. ConclusionIf the first two CT-guided SI joint injections fail, 3D surgical navigation is an alternative means of doing the injection that helps to significantly reduce SI joint-related pain after lumbosacral fusion. Level of evidenceIV, retrospective study.

T2 mapping of the sacroiliac joints in patients with axial spondyloarthritis

PurposeTo test whether T2 mapping of the sacro-iliac joints (SIJs) might help identifying patients with spondyloarthritis. MethodThis study included 20 biologic-naive patients with axial spondyloarthritis (10 females; mean age: 38 ± 9years; range, 19–47) and 27 controls (16 males; mean age = 39 ± 13years; range = 28–71) who prospectively underwent SIJs MRI at 1.5 T, including a multislice multiecho spin-echo sequence. Standard MRIs were reviewed to assess the SIJs according to the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria and SPondyloArthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) MRI index. T2 maps obtained from multiecho sequences were used to draw regions of interests in the cartilaginous part of the SIJs. Disease activity was assessed using BASDAI questionnaire. Bland-Altman method, ROC curve analysis, Chi square, Mann-Whitney U, Pearson’s and Spearman's correlation coefficient were used for data analysis. ResultsAccording to ASAS criteria, MRI was positive for sacroiliitis in 5/20 patients (25 %). Inter-observer reproducibility of T2 values was 87 % (coefficient of repeatability = 7.0; bias = 0.49; p < .001). Mean T2 values of patients (58.5 ± 4.4 ms, range: 52.6–68.2 ms) were significantly higher (p < .001) than those of controls (44.1 ± 6.6 ms, range: 33.6–67.2 ms). A T2 value of 52.51 ms yielded 100 % sensitivity and 91.7 % specificity to differentiate patients from controls. No statistically significant association/correlation was found between T2 values and BASDAI (r=˗.026, p = .827), disease duration (r = .024, p = .871), SPARCC (r=-.004, p = .981), ASAS criteria (p = .476), HLA-B27-positivity (p = .139), age (r=-.2.53, p = .891), and gender (p = .404). ConclusionsT2 relaxation times of the SIJs were significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls, making this tool potentially helpful to early identify patients with spondyloarthritis.

Spondyloarthritis and sarcoidosis: Related or fake friends? A systematic literature review.

Sarcoidosis and spondyloarthritis (SpA) have been regularly associated. Bone iliac granulomas have also been described. We propose herein a systematic review of rheumatologic axial manifestations of sarcoidosis. PubMed and the Cochrane Library were used to conduct this systematic literature review. Case reports and cross-sectional studies were reviewed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 41 articles were eligible. Three cross-sectional studies on the association between SpA and sarcoidosis showed a prevalence of sacroiliitis and SpA ranging from 12.9 to 44.8% and 12.9 to 48.3% in inflammatory back pain (IBP) subgroups, respectively. However, the IBP definitions and sacroiliac joint (SIJ) imaging modalities (X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging) were heterogeneous, and X-ray was mainly used for sacroiliitis diagnosis (in 78% of cases). Thirty-one case-report articles of the sarcoidosis-sacroiliitis association were identified, representing 35 patients. ASAS criteria for SpA were met in half of cases (16/32) and 46% (12/26) had HLA B27 positivity. Sarcoidosis occurred after sacroiliac symptoms in 47% of cases. In the seven case-report articles with granulomatous sacroiliac bone involvement, unilateral involvement seemed higher than in the sarcoidosis-sacroiliitis group. Literature analysis found a good evidence of the association between SpA and sarcoidosis, and special attention should be given to patients reporting IBP. Unilateral sacroiliitis may raise suspicion of granulomatous bone involvement, distinct from sacroiliitis. Imaging modalities used to study the SIJ in patients with sarcoidosis have been heterogeneous and further investigation is needed.

Inferior and Intra-/Peri-Articular Superior Sacroiliac Joint Injection Approaches Under Ultrasound Guidance to Treat Metastasis-Related Posterior Pelvic Bone Pain.

Numerous mechanical and pathologic variables contribute to sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain. The oncologic population has additional considerations, including tumor burden causing fracture, nerve compression, joint instability, and periosteal inflammation. Post-treatment changes may also restrict joint mobility, causing transitional pain. Currently, fluoroscopically guided SIJ injections, aimed at the inferior one third of the SIJ, are the gold standard for treatment but have only been described in the nononcologic population. Ultrasound (US) guidance may confer several benefits, including positioning, ease of procedure, lower costs, and, importantly, guidance to avoid neovascularization, metastatic disease, and other soft tissue structures. We aim to describe the advantages of US-guided SIJ injections for refractory malignant SIJ pain from extra-articular tumors. We then describe our technique and decision framework for accessing the superior or inferior SIJ in patients with metastatic sacroiliac pain. A retrospective review was performed on 5 patients with refractory malignant SIJ pain who underwent US-guided superior or inferior approach SIJ injection. Using imaging and outcomes, we developed a decision framework. Patients received either inferior or superior approach SIJ injections depending on location of tumor, extent of tumor invasion, and stability of the SIJ as per our framework. All patients reported improvement in pain and function without complications. We propose a decision framework for inferior vs. superior approach US-guided SIJ injections in the oncologic population with SIJ pain from metastases to the pelvis or sacrum. Having multiple techniques to approach the SIJ is important in the oncologic population, in whom metastatic tumor burden poses a technical challenge to performing these injections.

The use of external fixation in the emergency department: applications, common errors, complications and their treatment.

The use of an external fixator (EF) in the emergency department (ED) or the emergency theatre in the ED is reserved for critically ill patients in a life-saving attempt. Hence, usually only fixation/stabilization of the pelvis, tibia, femur and humerus are performed. All other external fixation methods are not indicated in an ED and thus should be performed in the operating room with a sterile environment.Anterior EF is used in unstable pelvic lesions due to anterior-posterior compression, and in stable pelvic fractures in haemodynamically unstable patients.Patients with multiple trauma should be stabilized quickly with EF.The C-clamp has been designed to be used in the ED to stabilize fractures of the sacrum or alterations of the sacroiliac joint in patients with circulatory instability.Choose a modular EF that allows for the free placement of the pins, is radiolucent and is compatible with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Planning the type of framework to be used is crucial.Avoid mistakes in the placement of EF.Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2020;5:204-214. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.5.190029

The semi-automated algorithm for the detection of bone marrow oedema lesions in patients with axial spondyloarthritis

The aim of the study was to create the efficient tool for semi-automated detection of bone marrow oedema lesions in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). MRI examinations of 22 sacroiliac joints of patients with confirmed axSpA-related sacroiliitis (median SPARCC score: 14 points) were included into the study. Design of our algorithm is based on Maksymowych et al. evaluation method and consists of the following steps: manual segmentation of bones (T1W sequence), automated detection of reference signal region, sacroiliac joint central lines and ROIs, a division of ROIs into quadrants, automated detection of inflammatory changes (STIR sequence). As a gold standard, two sets of manual lesion delineations were created. Two approaches to the performance assessment of lesion detection were considered: pixel-wise (detections compared pixel by pixel) and quadrant-wise (quadrant to quadrant). Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Correlation coefficient obtained for pixel-wise comparison of semi-automated and manual detections was 0.87 (p = 0.001), while for quadrant-wise analysis was 0.83 (p = 0.001). The correlation between two sets of manual detections was 0.91 for pixel-wise comparison (p = 0.001) and 0.88 (p = 0.001) for quadrant-wise approach. Spearman’s correlation between two manual assessments was not statistically different from the correlation between semi-automated and manual evaluations, both for pixel- (p = 0.14) and quadrant-wise (p = 0.17) analysis. Average single slice processing time: 0.64 ± 0.30 s. Our method allows for objective detection of bone marrow oedema lesions in patients with axSpA. The quantification of affected pixels and quadrants has comparable reliability to manual assessment.

Scoring magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) inflammation and structural lesions in sacroiliac joints of patients with axial spondyloarthritis: assessment of all MRI slices of the cartilaginous compartment versus standardized six or five slices

Objectives: The Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) sacroiliac joint (SIJ) scoring system assesses six or five (6/5) semicoronal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) slices for inflammation/structural lesions in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). However, the cartilaginous SIJ compartment may be visible in a few additional slices. The objective was to investigate interreader reliability, sensitivity to change, and classification of MRI scans as positive or negative for various lesion types using an ‘all slices’ approach versus standard SPARCC scoring of 6/5 slices.Method: Fifty-three axSpA patients were treated with the tumour necrosis factor inhibitor golimumab and followed with serial MRI scans at weeks 0, 4, 16, and 52. The most anterior and posterior slices covering the cartilaginous compartment and the transitional slice were identified. Scores for inflammation, fat metaplasia, erosion, backfill, and ankylosis in the cartilaginous SIJ compartment were calculated for the ‘all slices’ approach and the 6/5 slices standard.Results: By the ‘all slices’ approach, three readers scored mean 7.2, 7.7, and 7.0 slices per MRI scan. Baseline and change scores for the various lesion types closely correlated between the two approaches (Pearson’s rho ≥ 0.95). Inflammation score was median 13 (interquartile range 6–21, range 0–49) for 6/5 slices versus 14 (interquartile range 6–23, range 0–69) for all slices at baseline. Interreader reliability, sensitivity to change, and classification of MRI scans as positive or negative for various lesion types were similar.Conclusion: The standardized 6/5 slices approach showed no relevant differences from the ‘all slices’ approach and, therefore, is equally suited for monitoring purposes.

Comparative Sacral Morphology in Spondylolisthesis Patients

Study DesignRetrospective comparative case series. ObjectivesEvaluation of sacral morphology in spondylolisthesis patients compared with asymptomatic controls. Summary of Background DataPatients with spondylolisthesis are known to differ from asymptomatic controls in sagittal plane anatomy, but few studies examine the coronal and axial plane differences in these cohorts. MethodsThis is a retrospective evaluation of magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbosacral spine in 29 spondylolisthesis patients and an asymptomatic cohort (n = 154). Measurements of the linear distance and angular position of L5 and sacrum were performed in the sagittal, coronal, and axial planes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis quantified these associations. High- and low-grade spondylolisthesis patients were compared with two-sample t-tests. All p-values are two-sided and considered significant when p < .05. ResultsAxial measurements showed the distance of the right to left anterior ala and the L5 body width did not differ between the cohorts. Sacroiliac (SI) joint angles in the spondylolisthesis cohort were closer to the true sagittal plane than in the controls 109° versus 121° (p < .001). In the sagittal plane, the linear measurement of the ratio of the midpoint anteroposterior width L5 to the sacral end plate was larger in the high-grade patients than the low-grade patients and controls. In addition, the kyphosis between S1–S2 and S2–S3 was larger in the spondylolisthesis cohort. ConclusionsThe SI joints in patients with spondylolisthesis were orientated closer to the sagittal plane than in the controls. An awareness of this positioning may be important in surgical implant insertion as well as rehabilitation of hip extensor weakness. The main anatomical differences found in this study were in the sagittal plane. Sacral end plate abnormalities were well visualized and consistent with radiographic findings in the literature. Level of EvidenceLevel III, diagnostic.

Magnetic resonance imaging assessment in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: development of checklists for use in clinical practice.

The objective of our study was to standardize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of spine and sacroiliac joints in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and/or inflammatory spinal pain, by creating checklists and templates based on the opinions of rheumatologists and radiologists. A scientific committee developed a series of questionnaires with multiple items regarding MRI in patients with axial inflammatory pain and/or axSpA. Then an expert panel of rheumatologists and radiologists rated all items in a 9-point Likert scale. Finally, the scientific committee and the expert panel met to create the definitive documents. Several definitive checklists and templates were generated for rheumatologist-requested MRI and for radiologist-requested MRI reports of sacroiliac joint and spinal examinations. A technical requirement protocol was also agreed on. Our results could be useful in increasing understanding between rheumatologists and radiologists regarding MRI in axSpA diagnosis and follow-up.