Sacroiliitis

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Causes

By Mayo Clinic staff

A wide range of factors or events may cause sacroiliac joint dysfunction, including:

  • Traumatic injury. A sudden impact, such as a motor vehicle accident or a fall, can damage your sacroiliac joints.
  • Arthritis. Wear-and-tear arthritis (osteoarthritis) can occur in sacroiliac joints, as can ankylosing spondylitis — a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects the spine.
  • Pregnancy. The sacroiliac joints must loosen and stretch to accommodate childbirth. The added weight and altered gait during pregnancy can cause additional stress on these joints and can lead to abnormal wear.
  • Infection. In rare cases, the sacroiliac joint can become infected.
References
  1. Isaac Z, et al. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/199872655-3/994114554/1678/50.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50049-3_767. Accessed May 6, 2010.
  2. Williams KD, et al. Injection studies. In: Canale ST, et al. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/199872655-4/0/1584/296.html?tocnode=55688040&fromURL=296.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-03329-9..50042-8--cesec38_1984. Accessed May 6, 2010.
  3. van der Linden, et al. Ankylosing spondylitis: Pathology. In: Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders Co.; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/199988049-3/994442372/1807/513.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10070-1--s0200_2539. Accessed May 7, 2010.
  4. Anderson BC. Evaluation of the adult with hip pain. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed May 7, 2010.
  5. Inman RD. The spondyloarthropathies. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/199988049-4/994442372/1492/1025.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50291-3--cesec7_12895. Accessed May 7, 2010.
  6. Chang-Miller A (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz. May 17, 2010.
  7. Cohen SP, et al. Randomized placebo-controlled study evaluating lateral branch radiofrequency denervation for sacroiliac joint pain. Anesthesiology. 2008;109:279.
DS00726 July 15, 2010

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