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Journal of Pain Research 2024Research suggests that sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction is responsible for 15% to 30% of reported low back pain cases. Recently, there has been an increasing interest...
Safety, Efficacy, and Durability of Outcomes: Results from SECURE: A Single Arm, Multicenter, Prospective, Clinical Study on a Minimally Invasive Posterior Sacroiliac Fusion Allograft Implant.
INTRODUCTION
Research suggests that sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction is responsible for 15% to 30% of reported low back pain cases. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in SIJ fusion using minimally invasive surgery (MIS) due to safety. Initially, devices designed for MIS were intended for lateral approaches. A minimally invasive sacroiliac fusion implant for use with a posterior approach has been developed and is regulated for clinical use under the regulatory framework required for human cells, tissues, or cellular or tissue-based products (HCT/Ps).
METHODS
A multi-center, prospective, single-arm study was launched after initial studies provided preliminary data to support safety, efficacy, and durability of this minimally invasive sacroiliac posterior fusion LinQ allograft implant (NCT04423120). Preliminary results were reported previously. Final results for the full participant cohort are presented here.
RESULTS
One-hundred and fifty-nine (159) participants were enrolled across 16 investigational sites in the US between January 2020 and March 2022. One-hundred and twenty-two (122) participants were implanted. At the 1-month follow-up, 82 participants satisfied all criteria for the composite responder endpoint, representing 73.2% of the study cohort. These results stayed consistent across the remaining study timepoints with 66.0%, 74.4%, and 73.5% of participants classified as responders at the 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up visits, respectively. VAS scores were significantly reduced (p < 0.0001) and ODI scores were significantly improved (p < 0.0001). All domains of the PROMIS-29 were also significantly improved (all p's <0.0001). Only one procedure-related serious AE was reported in the study.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that the posterior approach LinQ Implant System is a safe and effective treatment for sacroiliac joint dysfunction at 12 months, with results that are favorable compared to outcomes reported for an FDA-cleared lateral approach.
PubMed: 38524688
DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S458334 -
Cureus Feb 2024Infectious sacroiliitis is a rare and challenging diagnosis. Sacroiliac joint changes related to pregnancy and puerperium can predispose to this condition. However, its...
Infectious sacroiliitis is a rare and challenging diagnosis. Sacroiliac joint changes related to pregnancy and puerperium can predispose to this condition. However, its clinical presentation can often mimic common causes of lower back pain and delay the diagnosis. We report the case of a 31-year-old pregnant woman with twins who presented at 29 weeks of gestation with lower back and right buttock pain that radiated down to the thigh. Although initially interpreted as sciatica pain, the diagnosis of psoas hematoma complicated with infectious sacroiliitis was made. With this case, we aim to bring awareness to this condition in order to raise suspicion among clinicians for an earlier diagnosis.
PubMed: 38524026
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.54621 -
Case Reports in Rheumatology 2024Inflammatory sacroiliitis is common in rheumatology practice. Spondyloarthritis is often underdiagnosed due to the lack of proper evaluation of the sacroiliac joints...
INTRODUCTION
Inflammatory sacroiliitis is common in rheumatology practice. Spondyloarthritis is often underdiagnosed due to the lack of proper evaluation of the sacroiliac joints (SIJs), clinically and radiographically. If SIJ is inflamed or arthritic, the arthritic said patient typically has spondyloarthritis, in the absence of infections or crystal arthritis. Sacroiliitis, in particular, when diagnosed between 12 and 45 years of age, is indicative of spondyloarthritis. People are often misdiagnosed and mislabeled as fibromyalgia because their serologies are negative. Our goal is to point out the importance of proper evaluation, diagnosis, and importance of inflammatory SIJ disease and conditions that involve SIJ inflammation.
CASES
We present three rare conditions presenting with bilateral and symmetric SIJ disease, none of which is ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's colitis, ulcerative colitis, psoriatic arthritis, and reactive arthritis (Reiter syndrome); there are reports of concurrent SIJ disease in rheumatoid arthritis and SLE.
CONCLUSION
The authors believe that SIJ disease is overlooked, is underdiagnosed, and can lead to incorrect treatment. We suggest a greater focus on SIJ imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of unexplained illnesses associated with low back pain, morning stiffness, or unexplained buttock pain. Providers should review their own SIJ films. The meaning of SIJ widening, cortical irregularity, spurs, and the significance of the anterior inferior SI joints, bone marrow edema, and fusion (namely, the natural history of sacroiliac pathophysiology).
PubMed: 38486680
DOI: 10.1155/2024/8893089 -
La Tunisie Medicale 2023SpA is a group of chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases that mainly affect the axial skeleton, but may also associate peripheral manifestations such as arthritis,...
INTRODUCTION
SpA is a group of chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases that mainly affect the axial skeleton, but may also associate peripheral manifestations such as arthritis, enthesitis and dactylitis.
AIM
Describe the peripheral manifestations of SpA.
METHODS
We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study of SpA patients received at the rheumatology department of CHU Ignace Deen in Conakry over a one-year period from June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022. The diagnosis of SpA was retained in accordance with the ASAS (Assessment of spondyloarthritis internationnal society) classification and data on peripheral manifestations were collected.
RESULTS
A total of 275 patients met the criteria and 82 had at least one peripheral involvement (29.8%). The mean age was 52.3 years, with females predominating in 58 (70.5%) cases. The mean time to diagnosis was 11 years. The most frequent peripheral manifestation was peripheral joint involvement (78%), followed by peripheral enthesitis (36.6%). The predominant clinical form was axial in 51.2%, with HLA-B27 antigen present in 63% and sacroiliitis in 51.2%. Treatment was based on NSAIDs (67.1%).
CONCLUSION
Peripheral manifestations are becoming increasingly frequent in SpA, and are dominated by peripheral joint involvement. The predominant clinical form was axial, with a strong association with HLA-B27.
Topics: Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Guinea; Cross-Sectional Studies; Spondylarthritis; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
PubMed: 38445401
DOI: No ID Found -
Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal Feb 2024Enthesitis/spondylitis-related arthritis (ERA) is a type of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) frequently associated with HLA-B27. In sub-Saharan Africa,...
BACKGROUND
Enthesitis/spondylitis-related arthritis (ERA) is a type of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) frequently associated with HLA-B27. In sub-Saharan Africa, HLA-B27-positive ERA hasn't been the subject of a specific study.
OBJECTIVES
We aimed to describe the clinical features, disease activity, functional disability and treatment of HLA-B27-positive ERA at diagnosis in Senegal and compare the findings to other populations.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective study by reviewing the medical records of patients diagnosed with ERA with an age of symptom onset < 18 years according to the 2019 PRINTO provisional criteria for ERA from January 2012 to December 2022. We collected demographic, clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic data. Disease activity score was assessed by Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). Functional disability was assessed using Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI).
RESULTS
A total of 31 patients with HLA-B27-positive ERA were included. Twenty of 31 (64.5%) were males. Twenty-seven (87%) were Fula (ethnicity). The median age at symptom onset and at diagnosis was 12 years and 19 years, respectively. Seven patients had a family history of Spondyloarthritis. Peripheral arthritis and enthesitis were the most common presenting features at disease onset. Peripheral arthritis was present in 29 (93.5%) and located in the lower limbs in 27/29 (93.1%) patients. Heel enthesitis was present in 26 (83.8%) patients. Axial involvement was present in 27 (87%) patients, dominated by low back pain and sacroiliac pain/ buttock pain in 24 (88.8%) and 22 (81.5%) patients, respectively. Seven (22.5%) patients had anterior uveitis. The ESR and CRP were elevated in 65.5% and 57.1% of cases, respectively. On imaging, sacroiliitis was found in 22 patients. The mean BASDAI was 5.5/10 (77.2% of patients had a high active disease; BASDAI ≥ 4/10). The mean ASDAS-ESR/CRP was 3.8. The mean BASFI was 5.4/10 (80% of patients had high functional disability; BASFI ≥ 4/10). Twenty-seven (87%) patients were treated with methotrexate and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. After 6 months of treatment, mean BASDAI was 3/10 and mean BASFI was 2.5/10.
CONCLUSION
In our study, HLA-B27-positive ERA was found in our Senegalese cohort mainly in adolescents of the Fula ethnic group. 22 (70.9%) patients developed ankylosing spondylitis at adulthood. The disease was very active at the time of diagnosis with significant functional disability. Treatment was mainly based on methotrexate and NAISDs.
Topics: Male; Adolescent; Humans; Adult; Female; Spondylitis, Ankylosing; Arthritis, Juvenile; HLA-B27 Antigen; Methotrexate; Retrospective Studies; Senegal; Spondylarthritis; Africa, Western; Pain
PubMed: 38424655
DOI: 10.1186/s12969-024-00969-1 -
Pharmaceutical Medicine Mar 2024Rheumatologic diseases are marked by their complexity, involving immune-, metabolic- and mechanically mediated processes which can affect different organ systems....
Rheumatologic diseases are marked by their complexity, involving immune-, metabolic- and mechanically mediated processes which can affect different organ systems. Despite a growing arsenal of targeted medications, many rheumatology patients fail to achieve full remission. Assessing disease activity remains challenging, as patients prioritize different symptoms and disease phenotypes vary. This is also reflected in clinical trials where the efficacy of drugs is not necessarily measured in an optimal way with the traditional outcome assessment. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed a digital transformation in healthcare, embracing telemonitoring and patient-reported data via apps and wearables. As a further driver of digital medicine, electronic medical record (EMR) providers are actively engaged in developing algorithms for clinical decision support, heralding a shift towards patient-centered, decentralized care. Machine learning algorithms have emerged as valuable tools for handling the increasing volume of patient data, promising to enhance treatment quality and patient well-being. Convolutional neural networks (CNN) are particularly promising for radiological image analysis, aiding in the detection of specific lesions such as erosions, sacroiliitis, or osteoarthritis, with several FDA-approved applications. Clinical predictions, including numerical disease activity forecasts and medication choices, offer the potential to optimize treatment strategies. Numeric predictions can be integrated into clinical workflows, allowing for shared decision making with patients. Clustering patients based on disease characteristics provides a personalized care approach. Digital biomarkers, such as patient-reported outcomes and wearables data, offer insights into disease progression and therapy response more flexibly and outside patient consultations. In association with patient-reported outcomes, disease-specific digital biomarkers via image recognition or single-camera motion capture enables more efficient remote patient monitoring. Digital biomarkers may also play a major role in clinical trials in the future as continuous, disease-specific outcome measurement facilitating decentralized studies. Prediction models can help with patient selection in clinical trials, such as by predicting high disease activity. Efforts are underway to integrate these advancements into clinical workflows using digital pathways and remote patient monitoring platforms. In summary, machine learning, digital biomarkers, and advanced imaging technologies hold immense promise for enhancing clinical decision support and clinical trials in rheumatology. Effective integration will require a multidisciplinary approach and continued validation through prospective studies.
Topics: Humans; Rheumatology; Pandemics; Prospective Studies; Machine Learning; Biomarkers
PubMed: 38421585
DOI: 10.1007/s40290-024-00515-0 -
World Neurosurgery May 2024Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) fusion, to treat back pain caused by SIJ dysfunction, can employ open or minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques and either cylindrical...
Navigated Simultaneous Lateral Minimally Invasive Tubular and Posterior Mini-Open Access for Removal and Revision of Triangular Sacroiliac Joint Implants: A Technical Note.
BACKGROUND
Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) fusion, to treat back pain caused by SIJ dysfunction, can employ open or minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques and either cylindrical (screw-shaped) or triangular (wedge-shaped) implants. Fusion nonunion sometimes explains recurrent SIJ pain following fusion and occasionally requires hardware revision. MIS revision minimizes patient pain, infection, and disability, but due to the triangular implant size and form factor, implant removal can present challenges for MIS access during the explantation and achieving good bony purchase for reinstrumentation. Here, we report a prone single-position lateral MIS/posterior mini-open procedure for triangular-implant SIJ fusion revision.
METHODS
The patient is a 72-year-old female who underwent right SIJ fusion for lower back and leg pain sustained after a fall 2 years prior but experienced recurrent pain over the subsequent 2 years, with imaging findings of right SIJ peri-hardware lucencies and diagnostic injections confirming persistent right-sided sacroiliitis.
RESULTS
The patient underwent hardware removal using the lateral MIS incision with table-mounted tubular access and image-guided navigation to maintain exposure, plus simultaneous reinstrumentation using a navigated S2-alar-iliac screw and iliac bolt construct with connecting rod through the posterior mini-open incision made for the navigation reference frame spinous process clamp.
CONCLUSIONS
The use of navigation and MIS access can significantly decrease the complexity of lateral hardware removal, and mini-open navigated screw-and-rod constructs offer reinstrumentation options accessible to surgeons unfamiliar with specialized posterior SIJ systems.
Topics: Humans; Female; Sacroiliac Joint; Aged; Reoperation; Spinal Fusion; Device Removal; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; Neuronavigation; Low Back Pain; Prostheses and Implants
PubMed: 38403019
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.02.098 -
Annals of Clinical Microbiology and... Feb 2024Brucellosis, developing complications including arthritis, spondylitis, sacroiliitis, and osteomyelitis, is one of the most common zoonotic diseases in the current world...
BACKGROUND
Brucellosis, developing complications including arthritis, spondylitis, sacroiliitis, and osteomyelitis, is one of the most common zoonotic diseases in the current world which causes economic losses to the livestock industry and is a great public health concern. Brucella melitensis are the main pathogen of brucellosis epidemics in China, most of which are located in northern China. However, there is limited knowledge about the epidemiology of osteoarthritis-associated brucellosis. This study was aimed to reveal the prevalence of osteoarthritis-associated brucellosis in Inner Mongolia and also to investigate the molecular characteristics of B. melitensis isolates.
METHODS AND RESULTS
In 2018, the osteoarthritis symptoms of brucellosis in the Brucellosis department of a hospital in Inner Mongolia were investigated. Twenty osteoarthritis-associated B. melitensis strains, isolated from the inpatients in Inner Mongolia during 2013-2017, were subjected to whole genome sequencing. The multilocus sequence type (MLST) and core genome SNP (cgSNP) analysis were conducted to detect molecular epidemiological characteristics. The incidence of brucellosis osteoarthritis symptoms in males (85/120, 70.8%) was significantly higher than that in females (35/120, 29.2%), and the age of patients was concentrated between 41 and 60 years old. In silico analyses indicated ST8 was the prevalent sequence type and the transmission of osteoarthritis-associated B. melitensis among different geographical areas. All strains carry virulence genes, including cgs, lpsA, manCoAg, pgm, pmm, virB4, wbdA and wboA.
CONCLUSION
Our study showed the close epidemiologically connection of osteoarthritis-associated B. melitensis strains in northern China. And ST8 was the prevalent sequence type which need our attention.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Adult; Middle Aged; Brucella melitensis; Multilocus Sequence Typing; Genotype; Brucellosis; China; Osteoarthritis
PubMed: 38402187
DOI: 10.1186/s12941-024-00671-w -
Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease 2024Enteropathic spondyloarthritides (eSpAs) are chronic inflammatory joint diseases associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Limited data are available on the...
BACKGROUND
Enteropathic spondyloarthritides (eSpAs) are chronic inflammatory joint diseases associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Limited data are available on the prevalence since arthritis in IBD patients may be underestimated because medications may hide disease activity with a possible diagnostic delay.
OBJECTIVES
We aimed to evaluate diagnostic delay in eSpA and explore associated demographic, clinical, and radiographic characteristics.
DESIGN
Single-centre cross-sectional study conducted on consecutive out-patients referred to the combined clinic (November 2018-October 2019).
METHODS
We analysed eSpA patients for diagnostic delay, disease activity, inflammatory markers, conventional radiography (CR) and magnetic resonance images (MRI) of sacroiliac joints/spine.
RESULTS
A total of 190 eSpA patients [118 peripheral SpA, 72 axial (Ax) SpA including 44 non-radiographic (nr)-axSpA] were enrolled. axSpA patients had a higher prevalence of men sex, HLA-B27 positivity, uveitis and pancolitis compared with peripheral eSpA. Median diagnostic delay in eSpA was 48 months (IQR 6-77) with no difference between axial and peripheral patients. Radiographic-axial SpA (r-axSpA) patients displayed a higher diagnostic delay compared with nr-axSpA (median/IQR 36/17-129 31/10-57 months, = 0.03) and were older, with longer disease duration, low education status and high rate of employment than patients with nr-axSpA. r-axSpA patients with sclerosis, syndesmophytes and bridge at CR had higher diagnostic delay than those without lesions. Men showed higher prevalence of spine damage lesions than women as sclerosis, squaring, syndesmophytes and bridges. Longer disease duration was detected in patients with radiographic damage as bridge and sacroiliitis grade 3. On MRI, sacroiliac bone oedema was associated with reduced diagnostic delay, whereas bone erosions were associated with higher diagnostic delay compared with that in patients without these lesions. Patients with psoriasis displayed a higher diagnostic delay compared to those without skin involvement.
CONCLUSION
Diagnostic delay was higher in r-axSpA compared with nr-axSpA despite the same treatment. Demographic, clinical features and radiological lesions were associated with diagnostic delay.
PubMed: 38380226
DOI: 10.1177/20406223241229843 -
Infectious Diseases of Poverty Feb 2024Brucellosis is a severe zoonotic disease that is often overlooked, particularly in impoverished countries. Timely identification of focal complications in brucellosis is... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Brucellosis is a severe zoonotic disease that is often overlooked, particularly in impoverished countries. Timely identification of focal complications in brucellosis is crucial for improving treatment outcomes. However, there is currently a lack of established indicators or biomarkers for diagnosing these complications. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate potential warning signs of focal complications in human brucellosis, with the goal of providing practical parameters for clinicians to aid in the diagnosis and management of patients.
METHODS
A multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted in China from December 2019 to August 2021. The study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and complications of patients with brucellosis using a questionnaire survey and medical record system. The presence of warning signs for complications was assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC) were used for variable screening and model evaluation.
RESULTS
A total of 880 participants diagnosed with human brucellosis were enrolled. The median age of the patients was 50 years [interquartile range (IQR): 41.5-58.0], and 54.8% had complications. The most common organ system affected by complications was the osteoarticular system (43.1%), with peripheral arthritis (30.0%), spondylitis (16.6%), paravertebral abscess (5.0%), and sacroiliitis (2.7%) being the most prevalent. Complications in other organ systems included the genitourinary system (4.7%), respiratory system (4.7%), and hematologic system (4.6%). Several factors were found to be associated with focal brucellosis. These factors included a long delay in diagnosis [odds ratio (OR) = 3.963, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.906-8.238 for > 90 days], the presence of underlying disease (OR = 1.675, 95% CI 1.176-2.384), arthralgia (OR = 3.197, 95% CI 1.986-5.148), eye bulging pain (OR = 3.482, 95% CI 1.349-8.988), C-reactive protein (CRP) > 10 mg/L (OR = 1.910, 95% CI 1.310-2.784) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) elevation (OR = 1.663, 95% CI 1.145-2.415). The optimal cutoff value in ROC analysis was > 5.4 mg/L for CRP (sensitivity 73.4% and specificity 51.9%) and > 25 mm/h for ESR (sensitivity 47.9% and specificity 71.1%).
CONCLUSIONS
More than 50% of patients with brucellosis experienced complications. Factors such as diagnostic delay, underlying disease, arthralgia, eye pain, and elevated levels of CRP and ESR were identified as significant markers for the development of complications. Therefore, patients presenting with these conditions should be closely monitored for potential complications, regardless of their culture results and standard tube agglutination test titers.
Topics: Humans; Middle Aged; Arthralgia; Brucellosis; C-Reactive Protein; Cross-Sectional Studies; Delayed Diagnosis; Incidence; Retrospective Studies; Adult
PubMed: 38374211
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-024-01186-4