SACRAL AUGMENTATION

Repair sacral fractures and restore mobility with a minimally invasive procedure.

If you’re experiencing pain and reduced function due to a sacral fracture that hasn’t healed with time, VIE’s sacral augmentation procedure may be the solution. This minimally invasive outpatient treatment can reduce pain and improve mobility, helping you return to your daily activities.

Definition

What is a sacral augmentation procedure?

Sacral augmentation is a treatment for sacral bone fractures, small breaks in the triangle-shaped bone near the bottom of your spine where it joins the pelvis.

Risk Factors

Causes of sacral fractures:

Osteoporosis (thinning of bones)
Pathologic fractures related to tumors growing in the sacrum

Symptoms

Symptoms of sacral fractures:

Pain in the lower back and pelvis
Severe pain when sitting, lying flat, or with movement

Treatment and Benefits

Who is a candidate for sacral augmentation?

Sacral augmentation is usually reserved for people with painful, progressive back pain who are not responding to conservative management, leading to reduced mobility and function. Your pain must be related to the fracture and not due to other issues like disc herniation, arthritis, or stenosis. Imaging tests will confirm the presence of a sacral fracture.

Benefits of sacral augmentation:

Proven safe and effective for reducing pain in patients with sacral insufficiency fractures¹
The majority of patients experience significant pain relief lasting at least 12 months²

Risks and side effects:

Slight chance of infection, bleeding, increased back pain, numbness, or tingling
Risk of developing additional fractures in patients with osteoporosis
Soreness at the trocar insertion site, resolving within a couple of days (ice can help)

Average Recovery Time

Recovery and results:

Most patients experience pain relief and improved mobility within 48 hours, with some feeling immediate relief. You can return to normal activities within a week, but should avoid strenuous activities such as heavy lifting for at least six weeks. Keep the bandage on for two days and take showers instead of baths during this period. Additionally, follow any further instructions provided by your healthcare provider.

At VIE, we are committed to providing the most advanced, minimally invasive treatments for sacral fractures. Contact us today to learn more about how sacral augmentation can help you find relief from pain and regain your mobility.

REFERENCES

Kortman, K., Ortiz, O., Miller, T., Brook, A., Tutton, S., Mathis, J., & Georgy, B. (2013). Multicenter study to assess the efficacy and safety of sacroplasty in patients with osteoporotic sacral insufficiency fractures or pathologic sacral lesions. Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery, 5(5), 461-466. https://doi.org/10.1136/neurintsurg-2012-010347
Frey, M. E., Warner, C., Thomas, S. M., Johar, K., Singh, H., Mohammad, M., … & Beall, D. P. (2017). Sacroplasty: a ten-year analysis of prospective patients treated with percutaneous sacroplasty: literature review and technical considerations. Pain Physician, 20(7), E1063-E1072. https://www.painphysicianjournal.com/current/pdf?article=NDcxOA%3D%3D
Dougherty, R. W., McDonald, J. S., Cho, Y. W., Wald, J. T., Thielen, K. R., & Kallmes, D. F. (2014). Percutaneous sacroplasty using CT guidance for pain palliation in sacral insufficiency fractures. Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery, 6(1), 57-60. https://doi.org/10.1136/neurintsurg-2012-010668