Return to Duty in Military Service Members Following Minimally Invasive Sacroiliac Joint Fusion

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Spinal Fusion
• Minimally Invasive Procedures

Background:

• Sacroiliac joint fusion (SIJF) is increasingly used, especially in active populations.
• Understanding postoperative outcomes, particularly return-to-duty (RTD) rates, is crucial for military service members.
• This study focuses on the outcomes of SIJF in an active duty military cohort.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the return-to-duty (RTD) rates after minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion (SIJF).
• To assess the impact of surgical variables, including navigation and implant type, on RTD.
• To provide insights into the efficacy of SIJF in a young, active military population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of electronic medical records for active duty service members who underwent SIJF.
• Data collected from January 2013 to January 2019 at a tertiary military medical center.
• Primary outcome: RTD at 6 months. Secondary outcomes: RTD at 1 year, last follow-up, and revision surgery. Variables included age, gender, rank, navigation use, and implant type.

Main Results:

• 16 service members were included (mean age 40.5 years; mean follow-up 24 months).
• 56% achieved RTD within 6 months post-surgery.
• Navigation-assisted SIJF (100% RTD) and triangular implants (80% RTD) were associated with significantly higher 6-month RTD rates compared to non-navigation (30% RTD) and cylindrical implants (17% RTD), respectively.

Conclusions:

• A majority of active duty service members achieved return-to-duty status by 6 months after SIJF.
• Navigation-assisted procedures and triangular implants showed promising results for improving RTD.
• Further research is warranted to confirm the benefits of navigation and implant selection in SIJF outcomes.