Clinical UM Guideline

This document addresses proposed indications for open sacroiliac joint fusion, a surgical procedure that fuses the iliac bone (pelvis) to the spine (sacrum). It is performed for a variety of orthopedic conditions including trauma (with fracture), infection, cancer, and spinal instability.

Note: This document does not address minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion procedures.

Medically Necessary:

Open sacroiliac joint fusion procedures are considered medically necessary for any of the following indications:

1. As an adjunct to sacrectomy or partial sacrectomy related to tumors involving the sacrum; or
2. As an adjunct to the medical treatment of sacroiliac joint infection/sepsis; or
3. Severe traumatic injuries associated with pelvic ring disruption (that is, fracture or dislocation); or
4. During multisegment spinal constructs (for example, correction of deformity in scoliosis or kyphosis surgery) extending to the ilium.

Not Medically Necessary:

Open sacroiliac joint fusion procedures for conditions not listed above, including but not limited to, poorly defined low back pain and sacral insufficiency fractures are considered not medically necessary.

The following codes for treatments and procedures applicable to this guideline are included below for informational purposes. Inclusion or exclusion of a procedure, diagnosis or device code(s) does not constitute or imply member coverage or provider reimbursement policy. Please refer to the member's contract benefits in effect at the time of service to determine coverage or non-coverage of these services as it applies to an individual member.

When services are Medically Necessary:

When services may be Medically Necessary when criteria are met:
For the procedure code listed above for the following diagnoses

When services are Not Medically Necessary:
For the procedure and diagnosis codes listed above when criteria are not met or for all other diagnoses not listed.

The sacroiliac joint is a firm, small joint that lies at the junction of the spine and the pelvis. While most of the bones (vertebrae) of the spine are mobile, the sacrum is made up of five vertebrae that are fused together and do not move. The iliac bones are the two large bones that make up the pelvis. As a result, the sacroiliac joints connect the spine to the pelvis. The sacrum and the iliac bones are held together by a collection of strong ligaments. These joints are important in transferring the load of the upper body to the lower body, supporting the entire weight of the upper body when an individual is erect, which in turn results in stress to this weight-bearing area of the pelvis and spine.

Surgical management of primary sacral tumors is challenging because of their size and location. Reconstruction is often required in individuals who require a radical resection with total sacrectomy for tumors such as chordoma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and giant cell tumor of the sacrum. Sacroiliac joint fusion has been performed as an adjunct to en bloc sacrectomy or partial sacrectomy in the setting of sacral tumors. The evidence in the peer-reviewed literature to support the use of lumbar pedicle screws in combination with other surgical techniques involving the ilia in spinal pelvic reconstruction surgery (for example, Galveston rods, transiliac bar placement) consists of articles that review surgical techniques (Zhang, 2003) and small case series (Gallia, 2005; Newman, 2009; Salehi, 2002).

Sacroiliac joint infection (such as, osteomyelitis, pyogenic sacroiliitis, sepsis) is an uncommon condition that generally responds to long-term antibiotics and occasionally requires drainage for abscess. Additional surgical treatment may involve debridement, decompression, and internal screw fixation when symptoms do not resolve with initial intravenous antibiotic therapy. The evidence in the peer-reviewed literature to support the use of sacroiliac joint fusion as an adjunct to the medical treatment of sacroiliac joint infection consists of single and small case series (Davidson, 2003; Giannoudis, 2007; Sar, 2003).

Pelvic ring disruption with sacral fracture is typically a result of a high-energy injury associated with vascular injuries, mechanical instability, neurological impairment and increased morbidity. Unstable pelvic ring fractures can be treated by a variety of methods including early operative stabilization with internal iliosacral screw fixation. In vertically unstable injuries, sacroiliac screws may be augmented by anterior fixation (Griffin, 2006). Low rates of infection, wound healing problems and minimal blood loss are advantages of this method.

The evidence in the peer-reviewed literature to support the use of sacroiliac joint fusion procedures for pelvic ring fracture associated with traumatic injury consists of retrospective case series that address advantages and complications of specific surgical approaches (Hsu, 2010; Rysavy, 2010; Schweitzer, 2008).

The European guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic girdle pain (Vleeming, 2008), which generally arises in relation to pregnancy, trauma, arthritis and osteoarthritis. “Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is defined by pain experienced by the posterior iliac crest and the gluteal fold, particularly in the vincinity of the sacroiliac joints (SIJ). The pain may radiate in the posterior thigh and can also occur in conjuction with/or separately in the symphysis.” The endurance capacity for standing, walking, and sitting is diminished. The diagnosis of PGP can be reached after exclusion of lumbar causes. The PGP or functional disturbances in relation to PGP must be reproducible by specific clinical tests. Sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion procedure may be indicated for stabilization of a traumatic severe disruption of the pelvic ring.

Spinal deformity surgery involving long fusions of the spine in adults with spinal diseases such as degenerative scoliosis and spondylolysis may result in a debilitating complication of failure of the lumbosacral (spinal-pelvic) junction resulting from nonunion, implant failure, or sacral fracture. As a result, individuals who experience continued pain, continued curve progression and deformity, and progressive sagittal imbalance, may require reoperation. The addition of spinopelvic fixation at the caudal end of long segment fusions (constructs) has improved sacral fusion rates. Iliac wing screws have been successfully used in nonambulatory individuals for the treatment of neuromuscular scoliosis, but concerns exist over use in ambulatory individuals. Sacroiliac joint fusion has been performed in the setting of long segment fusions of the spine that end at the first sacral vertebra (S1) in adults with spinal deformity and persistent sacroiliac joint-related pain. The evidence in the peer-reviewed literature consists of retrospective case series (Tumialan, 2008; n=20), the largest series involving 78 ambulatory adults with degenerative scoliosis and spondylolysis who underwent bilateral iliac wing fixation in long fusions to the pelvis (Kasten, 2010). The operative indications for posterior spinal fusion in this case series were fixed sagittal imbalance spondylolysis (n=23), idiopathic scoliosis (n=22), degenerative scoliosis (n=15), pseudarthrosis below long fusions (n=13), and traumatic kyphosis (n=5). Postoperatively, 12 of 78 individuals (15.3%) developed pseudarthrosis with broken implants; however, only 5 of 78 (6.4%) nonunions occurred at the lumbosacral junction. Six of 78 individuals (7.7%) required removal of the iliac screws for pain or painful prominence. A total of 42 individuals had one or more complications with an overall complication rate of 54%. Based on responses to a satisfaction questionnaire, 78% of individuals reported good or excellent results with the procedure. A significant improvement was achieved in correction of sagittal balance and coronal deformity. On follow-up radiographs, there were no sacral fractures, sacral screw failures, or significant sacroiliac joint degeneration. Nonunions continued to be a problem, with a rate of 15.3%, however only 6.4% of nonunions were at the lumbosacral junction. Complications specific to iliac screw placement were reported as minimal. Despite the complication rates (similar to those reported in other articles) and the known problems that exist with the complexity of long segment spinal fusions, the use of iliac wing fixation appears to improve lumbosacral fusion rates by adding structural support to S1 screws in long-segment spinal fusions. 

A European guideline by Vleeming and colleagues (2008) suggests that surgery may be indicated for severe traumatic cases of pelvic girdle pain, but only when other non-operative treatment modalities have failed. The guideline recommends a preoperative assessment and trial with an external fixator for 3 weeks to evaluate longer lasting effects of fixation.

Kibsgard and colleagues (2014) evaluated physical function and pain after open-accessed unilateral anterior sacroiliac joint fusion and fusion of the pubic symphysis in a single-subject research design study of 9 individuals with severe pelvic girdle pain. Repeated outcome measures of Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS), and Short Form-36 (SF-36) were assessed preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. A total of 8 participants were evaluable and included in the 1-year analysis of outcomes. Significant reductions were reported in ODI (54 to 37) and VAS (82 to 57) scores after 1 year (p<0.001). At baseline, 7 out of 8 participants had bilateral SI joint symptoms. At the 1-year follow-up, only 2 participants experienced pain in the fused joint; however, 6 of the 7 participants reported discomfort in the contralateral side. A total of 7 participants had pain in the pubic symphysis before surgery, and 5 participants had persistent pain in this area at the 1-year follow-up. One year after surgery, there was a 20-point improvement in physical function and bodily pain (p<0.001), a 15-point improvement in social functioning (p=0.008) and a 6-point improvement in general health (p=0.009). There were 3 major complications reported: 1 infection, 1 complex regional pain syndrome with drop-foot, and 1 participant with loss of bladder sensation; in addition, 3 participants experienced transient sensitivity loss to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve area. All participants reported high levels of postoperative pain and required epidural treatment for 5-7 days, were hospitalized for 7-10 days, and were discharged on opioids. Limitations of this small study include the short-term measurement of outcomes and the high incidence of adverse events and complications with the procedure. Additional studies are needed of larger populations measuring long-term outcomes to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of sacroiliac fusion of the pelvic joints for individuals with severe pelvic girdle pain.

In 2021, the International Society of Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS) policy updated the minimally invasive surgical sacroiliac joint fusion (for chronic sacroiliac joint pain): coverage indications, limitations, and medical necessity. (Lorio, 2021) The authors suggest use of open SIJF “in certain cases, such as acute trauma, tumor, infection, or for SIJF in conjunction with pelvic fixation in spinal deformity surgery.”

Evidence is poor for sacroiliac joint fusion for addition indications, sacroiliac joint problems are referred to by varying terms, including sacroiliac joint dysfunction, sacroiliac joint inflammation, sacroiliac joint strain, and sacroiliac joint syndrome. Each of these terms refers to a condition that causes pain in the sacroiliac joint area from a variety of causes. Individuals often experience pain in the lower back and hips, but pain may also be present in the groin and thighs; this pain is often aggravated by any form of movement including sitting, lifting, running or walking. The etiology of sacroiliac joint inflammation and pain can be difficult to diagnose since the sacroiliac joint is not easily palpated or manipulated, radiographs or other imaging studies are often normal, and other conditions (for example, degenerative arthritis, lower back pain, sciatica) can cause similar symptoms.

Research into sacroiliac joint pain has been affected by lack of standard criteria to measure its prevalence and against which various clinical examinations can be validated. Sacroiliac joint pain is typically without any consistent, demonstrable radiographic or laboratory features and most commonly exists in the setting of morphologically normal joints. Diagnostic anesthetic injections, movement tests, palpation to detect tenderness, and pain descriptions are clinical tests for evaluating individuals with complaints of sacroiliac joint pain. Study of the sacroiliac joint is further confounded by multiple structures, such as lumbar discs and posterior facet joints, that may refer pain to the area surrounding the sacroiliac joint. Sacroiliac joint fusion, performed as an open surgical procedure, with or without bone grafts and other metal implant devices, has been investigated as a treatment for individuals who are unresponsive to or cannot tolerate other therapy for chronic low back pain presumed to be primarily of sacroiliac joint origin and other pain-related sacroiliac conditions.

Sacral insufficiency fractures occur when the quality of the sacral bone has become inadequate to handle the stress of weight bearing. The bone has lost some of its supporting structure and becomes weak and fragile. Sacral insufficiency fractures are usually located parallel to the spine, most often in the ala or “wings” of the sacrum, just beside the sacroiliac joint. A transverse fracture may also be present that connects an insufficiency fracture when it occurs on both sides of the sacrum. Sacral insufficiency fractures are known to develop in older persons, particularly in women, due to the presence of osteoporosis (that is, a decrease in bone tissue and minerals such as calcium) without definite trauma history. Other risk factors that can weaken the bone include radiation to the pelvis (for example, oncologic conditions), steroid use, rheumatoid arthritis, hyperparathyroidism, anorexia nervosa, liver transplantation, osteopenia, Paget's disease, hip joint replacement, and prior lumbosacral fusion. Sacral insufficiency fractures can also occur in pregnant or breastfeeding women due to temporary osteoporosis. The exact prevalence of sacral insufficiency fractures is unknown and is often difficult to diagnose at an early stage because the condition presents with signs and symptoms similar to, and is often accompanied by, concurrent lower lumbar degenerative disease.

Anterior: The front surface of the body.

Arthrodesis: The surgical fixation of a joint to promote bone fusion; also called artificial ankylosis or syndesis.

Axial skeleton: In the human body, the bones of the body axis, including the skull, vertebral column, ribs, and sternum.

Posterior: The back or dorsal surface of the body.

Provocative tests: Physical examination maneuvers that definitively confirms the sacroiliac joint as primary source of pain. Five different positions include: thigh thrust test, compression test, Gaenslen’s test, distraction test, Patrick’s sign. (NASS, 2015)

Sacroiliac joint: The joint formed by the sacrum and ilium where they meet on either side of the lower back.

Spinal fusion: The surgical immobilization of two or more adjacent bones of the spinal column (vertebra). Multiple bones are fused or made to grow together to become one solid bone; also called spondylosyndesis.

Peer Reviewed Publications:

1. Ashman B, Norvell DC, Hermsmeyer JT. Chronic sacroiliac joint pain: fusion versus denervation as treatment options. Evid Based Spine Care J. 2010; 1(3):35-44.
2. Belanger TA, Dall BE. Sacroiliac arthrodesis using a posterior midline fascial splitting approach and pedicle screw instrumentation: a new technique. J Spinal Disord. 2001; 14(2):118-124.
3. Berthelot JM, Gouin F, Glemarec J, et al. Possible use of arthrodesis for intractable sacroiliitis in spondylarthropathy: report of two cases. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2001; 26(20):2297-2299.
4. Buchowski JM, Kebaish KM, Sinkov V, et al. Functional and radiographic outcome of sacroiliac arthrodesis for the disorders of the sacroiliac joint. Spine J. 2005; 5(5):520-528.
5. Davidson D, Letts M, Khoshhal K. Pelvic osteomyelitis in children: a comparison of decades from 1980-1989 with 1990-2001. J Pediatr Orthop. 2003; 23(4):514-521.
6. Dengler J, Kools D, Pflugmacher R, et al. Randomized joint arthrodesis compared with conservative management for chronic low back pain attributed to the sacroiliac joint. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2019; 101(5):400-411.
7. Gallia GL, Haque R, Garonzik I, et al. Spinal pelvic reconstruction after total sacrectomy for en bloc resection of a giant sacral chordoma. Technical note. J Neurosurg Spine. 2005; 3:501-506.
8. Giannikas KA, Khan AM, Karski MT, Maxwell HA. Sacroiliac joint fusion for chronic pain: a simple technique avoiding the use of metalwork. Eur Spine J. 2004; 13(3):253-256.
9. Griffin DR, Starr AJ, Reinert CM, et al. Vertically unstable pelvic fractures fixed with percutaneous iliosacral screws: does posterior injury pattern predict fixation failure? J Orthop Trauma. 2006; 20(1 Suppl):S30-S36.
10. Hsu JR, Bear RR, Dickson KF. Open reduction internal fixation of displaced sacral fractures: technique and results. Orthopedics. 2010; 33(10):730.
11. Kasten MD, Rao LA, Priest B. Long-term results of iliac wing fixation below extensive fusions in ambulatory adult patients with spinal disorders. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2010; 23(7):e37-e42.
12. Kibsgard TJ, Roise O, Stuge B. Pelvic joint fusion in patients with severe pelvic girdle pain - a prospective single-subject research design study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2014; 15:85.
13. Klineberg E, McHenry T, Bellabarba C, et al. Sacral insufficiency fractures caudal to instrumented posterior lumbosacral arthrodesis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008; 33(16):1806-1811.
14. Lin J, Lachmann E, Nagler W. Sacral insufficiency fractures: a report of two cases and a review of the literature. J Womens Health Gend Based Med. 2001; 10(7):699-705.
15. Newman CB, Keshavarzi S, Aryan HE. En bloc sacrectomy and reconstruction: technique modification for pelvic fixation. Surg Neurol. 2009; 72(6):752-756.
16. Ou-Yang DC, York PJ, Kleck CJ, Patel VV. Diagnosis and management of sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - American Volume. 2017; 99(23):20272036.
17. Peng KT, Huang KC, Chen MC, et al. Percutaneous placement of iliosacral screws for unstable pelvic ring injuries: comparison between one and two C-arm fluoroscopic techniques. J Trauma. 2006; 60(3):602-608.
18. Rysavy M, Pavelka T, Khayarin M, Dzupa V. Iliosacral screw fixation of the unstable pelvic ring injuries. Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech. 2010; 77(3):209-214.
19. Sachs D, Capobianco R. One year successful outcomes for novel sacroiliac joint arthrodesis system. Ann Surg Innov Res. 2012; 6(1):13.
20. Salehi SA, McCafferty RR, Karahalios D, Ondra SL. Neural function preservation and early mobilization after resection of metastatic sacral tumors and lumbosacropelvic junction reconstruction. Report of three cases. J Neurosurg. 2002; 97(1 Suppl):88-93.
21. Sar C, Kilicoglu O. S1 pediculoiliac screw fixation in instabilities of the sacroiliac complex: biomechanical study and report of two cases. J Orthop Trauma. 2003; 17(4):262-270.
22. Schutz U, Grob D. Poor outcome following bilateral sacroiliac joint fusion for degenerative sacroiliac joint syndrome. Acta Orthop Belg. 2006; 72(3):296-308.
23. Simopoulos TT, Manchikanti L, Singh V, et al. A systematic evaluation of prevalence and diagnostic accuracy of sacroiliac joint interventions. Pain Physician. 2012;15(3):E305-344.
24. Tjardes T, Paffrath T, Baethis H, et al. Computer assisted percutaneous placement of augmented iliosacral screws: a reasonable alternative to sacroplasty. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008; 33(13):1497-1500.
25. Tumialan LM, Mummaneni PV. Long-segment spinal fixation using pelvic screws. Neurosurgery. 2008; 63(3 Suppl):183-190.
26. Vavken P, Krepler P. Sacral fractures after multi-segmental lumbosacral fusion: a series of four cases and systematic review of literature. Eur Spine J. 2008; 17 (Suppl 2):S285-S290.
27. Zelle BA, Gruen GS, Brown S, George S. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction: evaluation and management. Clin J Pain. 2005; 21(5):446-455.
28. Zhang HY, Thongtrangan I, Balabhadra RS, et al. Surgical techniques for total sacrectomy and spinopelvic reconstruction. Neurosurg Focus. 2003; 15(2):E5.
29. Zhu G, Jiang LY, Yi Z, et al. Sacroiliac joint tuberculosis: surgical management by posterior open-window focal debridement and joint fusion. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2017; 18(1):504.

Government Agency, Medical Society, and Other Authoritative Publications:

1. Chou R, Loeser JD, Owens DK, et al. Interventional therapies, surgery, and interdisciplinary rehabilitation for low back pain: an evidence-based clinical practice guideline from the American Pain Society. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009; 34(10):1066-1077.
2. International Society for the Advancement of Spinal Surgery (ISASS). Recommendations for Coverage Criteria for Minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion. 2015. Available at: https://isass.org/policy-statements/. Accessed on February 14, 2023.
3. Lorio M, Kube R, Araghi A. International Society for the advancement of Spine Surgery Policy 2020 Update – Minimally invasive surgery sacroiliac joint fusion (for chronic sacroiliac joint pain): coverage indications, limiations, and medical necessity. Inter J Spine Surg. 2021; 14(6):860-895.
4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) Premarket Notification Database. Product code: OUR. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm. Accessed on February 14, 2023.
5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) Database. Product code: OUR. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfmaude/search.cfm. Accessed on February 14, 2023.
6. Vleeming A, Albert HB, Ostgaard HC, et al. European guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic girdle pain. Eur Spine J. 2008; 17(6):794-819.

1. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Available at: http://www.aaos.org/. Accessed on February 14, 2023.
2. American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). Available at: http://www.aans.org/. Accessed on February 14, 2023.
3. North American Spine Society (NASS). Available at: https://www.spine.org/. Accessed on February 14, 2023.

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