Percutaneous Sacro-iliac Joint fusion iFuse from SI Bone
Before Surgery
You may need to obtain crutches or a walker for use after surgery. Your doctor will help you decide which type is best for you and tell you where to get them. You will be told when to stop eating and drinking before surgery. It is critical to inform your doctor if you are taking any blood thinning medication. At the hospital, your temperature, pulse, breathing and blood pressure will be checked. An IV (intravenous) line may be started to provide fluids and medications needed during surgery.
During Surgery
SI joint fusion is performed in an operating room with either general or spinal anesthesia. Typically, you will be positioned lying face down. Your surgeon will use a specially designed system to guide the instruments that prepare the bone and insert the implants. Both the surgical technique and the iFuse Implant System are designed to offer maximum protection to the surrounding tissues.
The iFuse implant is 3-D printed porous implant in a triangular trephine shape
3 ifuse implants are used to fuse the SI joint
The entire procedure is performed through a small incision (approx. 3 cm long), along the side of your buttock. During the procedure, fluoroscopy provides your surgeon with live imaging to enable proper placement of the implants. Typically, three implants are used, but the number and length of implants may vary depending on your size and anatomy.
The procedure takes approximately one hour. You may feel comfortable enough to return home the same day of surgery or perhaps the morning after. Your surgeon will make this decision based on your post-surgical status.
After surgery
After discharge, your surgeon will arrange follow-up visits to assess your incision, and how you are progressing. You may experience some post-operative buttock swelling, which can be helped by icing the region after surgery, as directed by your surgeon. You may be temporarily partial-weight bearing after surgery, as directed by your surgeon. Your progress will be assessed by your doctor and he/she will decide when you can return to full weight bearing. Your surgeon will make decisions about your post-surgical case based on your medical health.
More than fifty published, peer-reviewed articles demonstrate safety and effectiveness of the iFuse Implant System. iFuse is the SI joint fusion system with clinical studies demonstrating that treatment improved pain, patient function, and quality of life.
