Efficacy and safety of full-endoscopic sacroiliac joint denervation for the treatment of chronic low back pain: a systematic review

Abstract Background Full-endoscopic sacroiliac joint denervation (FE-SJD) is a novel minimally invasive technique that increases the precision of targeting the nerve roots responsible for chronic low back pain (CLBP). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of FE-SJD for the management of CLBP attributable to sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction. Methods A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement was conducted to collect studies assessing the effectiveness and safety of FE-SJD in the treatment of CLBP of SIJ origin. Results A total of 6 studies encompassing 169 patients were included. The weighted age of patients was 59.95 ± 12.07 years with 102 (60.36%) females. The weighted mean of BMI was 26.82 ± 4.62. All patients presented with SIJ-attributable CLBP, with an average duration of 55.0 ± 28.0 months. The most common treated level was L4-5 with a mean operation time of 44.0 ± 11.2 min. The preoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) weighted mean were 6.675 ± 1.294 and 34.4 ± 6.99 which significantly improved to 2.46 ± 1.65 and 12.3 ± 5.47 at the latest follow-up, respectively ( P < .001). The mean follow-up period was 18 ± 9.75 months. There were no complications. Conclusion The available evidence suggests that FE-SJD is associated with favorable clinical outcomes and a low complication rate in the treatment of chronic low back pain attributable to sacroiliac joint dysfunction. However, the current literature is limited by small sample sizes and predominantly non-comparative study designs.