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Review Article - Journal of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation (2017) Volume 1, Issue 1
Sacral insufficiency fractures
Sacral insufficiency fractures (SIF) is a common cause of debilitating back pain in the elderly. First described by Lourie in 1982. Since then, there has been much more cases reported due to the awareness of this entity, however, there is often a delay in diagnosis because clinical symptoms are commonly vague and nonspecific, these can mimic a variety of pathologies. These fractures can cause considerable pain, loss of independence, and economic burden to both the patient and the health care system. Bone scintigraphy and MR are the most sensitive studies to detect SIFs, though findings have been described in a variety of radiologic imaging. The standard care for the treatment of SIFs has been conservative management, with bed rest, analgesics, and rehabilitation. Sacroplasty has been proposed as an alternative to conservative treatment. Studies suggest that it is a safe and effective procedure, providing early symptomatic relief. The role of operative fixation in insufficiency fractures is also discussed.
Author(s): Andrés Cobar-Bustamante, Mario Alberto Cahueque Lemus, Maria Bregni-Duraes, Alfredo Ortiz-Muciño