ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT02420041Updated Nov 13, 2015Results posted

Comparing the Effects of Ultrasound Versus Fluoroscopy for Sacroiliac Joint Injections

An interventional study of Active comparator: Fluoroscopic Guided SIJ injection and Ultrasound Guided Sacroiliac Joint Injection in Sacroiliitis, sponsored by United States Naval Medical Center, San Diego. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2015-11-13.

Sponsored by United States Naval Medical Center, San Diego · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
28
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this research project is to compare two different techniques for performing an injection of the sacroiliac joint. Although both techniques are safe and accurate, the goal of the study is to determine if one technique is better than the other with respect to improvement in a patient's pain, function, and his or her satisfaction. Additionally, the investigators want to determine if one technique is quicker and more efficient than the other.

Read the detailed description

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is a source of low back pain that causes significant pain and disability. Injection of the sacroiliac joint with a local anesthetic/corticosteroid mixture has shown efficacy in treating this condition, when conservative therapy fails. The use of fluoroscopic guidance and anatomic landmarks are traditional methods for performing this injection; however, ultrasound imaging has recently been utilized for performing this procedure. Although studies exist that describe and validate the ultrasound technique, no studies exist that compare the techniques with respect to short-term and long-term outcomes. In this study, the primary objective is to determine if a difference exists between a fluoroscopic-guided technique and ultrasound-guided technique with respect to pain and function. A secondary objective is to compare the two techniques with respect to procedural characteristics.

02

Conditions studied

  • Sacroiliitis

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Keywords

  • Sacroiliac Joint Injection
  • Fluoroscopy
  • Ultrasound
03

In context

Sacroiliitis

42 studies on the registry are indexed under Sacroiliitis; 11 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 28 is below the median of 48 across 28 interventional studies indexed under Sacroiliitis.

Browse Sacroiliitis studies →

Lead sponsor

United States Naval Medical Center, San Diego is the lead sponsor of 65 studies on the registry; 6 are open to participants now.

Of its 6 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 1 (17%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  1. Diagnosis of SIJ dysfunction by history and physical exam

    • History: Either low back pain or buttock pain
    • Exam: Either tenderness to palpation over the SIJ or a positive provocative maneuver (i.e., Patrick's, Gaenslen's, and/or Yeoman's test)
  2. Failed a trial of conservative therapy which may included medications, physical therapy, or both
  3. Age > 18
  4. Patient agrees to participate in study

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Coagulopathy
  2. Renal or Hepatic Failure
  3. Current Pregnancy or actively pursuing pregnancy
  4. Known allergy to local anesthetic or
  5. Infection at site of needle placement or SIJ infection
  6. Patient unable to consent himself or herself
  7. Patient refusal
  8. Prior surgical procedures involving the SIJ
  9. > 35 kg/m2
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

BMI (body mass index)

Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.

What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
28 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Fluoroscopic Guidance

    Patients referred to the Naval Medical Center-San Diego Pain Medicine Clinic. Need a history and physical showing objective findings of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction. If the patient meets inclusion / exclusion criteria, they will be presented with the study. After accepting and being consented, they will then be scheduled. The day of the appointment they will be randomised to Group A or B. In Group A : Fluoroscopy will be used to Guide Needle Placement to inject Steroid into joint. Then complete the multidimensional pain inventory (MPI) and rate their pain on the NRS from 0-11. After procedure, they will rate their pain from 0-10 in the recovery area and then be discharged to home. They will complete an MPI, Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC), numerical rating scale (NRS), and adverse events questionnaire 1-2 weeks post-procedure and 3 months post-procedure.

    Procedure: Active comparator: Fluoroscopic Guided SIJ injection · Device: Havel's Inc. EchoStim (facet tip) 21 Gauge 4" needle · Device: iohexol · Drug: triamcinolone/lidocaine

  • Experimental
    Ultrasound Guidance

    Patients referred to the Naval Medical Center-San Diego Pain Medicine Clinic. Need a history and physical showing objective findings of SIJ dysfunction. If the patient meets inclusion / exclusion criteria, they will be presented with the study. After accepting and being consented, they will then be scheduled. The day of the appointment they will be randomised to Group A or B. In Group B Ultrasound will be used to Guide Needle Placement to inject steroid into joint. Then complete the MPI and rate their pain on the NRS from 0-11. After procedure, they will rate their pain from 0-10 in the recovery area and then be discharged to home. They will complete an MPI, Patient Global Impression of Change (PIGC), NRS, and adverse events questionnaire 1-2 weeks post-procedure and 3 months post-procedure.

    Procedure: Ultrasound Guided Sacroiliac Joint Injection · Device: Havel's Inc. EchoStim (facet tip) 21 Gauge 4" needle · Device: SonoSite S-nerve · Drug: triamcinolone/lidocaine

Interventions

  • ProcedureActive comparator: Fluoroscopic Guided SIJ injection

    * Needle entry point is in the lower one-third of the SIJ * Sterile preparation (with chlorhexidine) and draping and 3 mL of 1% lidocaine injected subcutaneously at site of needle entry * Under fluoroscopy guidance, Havel's Inc. EchoStim (facet tip) 21 Gauge 4" needle is inserted in a coaxial fashion into the SIJ * 1 mL of contrast (iohexol 300 mg/mL) is injected to outline the SIJ and to ensure no vascular uptake * Injection of 20 mg of triamcinolone diluted in 4 mL of 1% lidocaine * Patient observed in recovery bay for 20 minutes and then discharged home

  • ProcedureUltrasound Guided Sacroiliac Joint Injection

    * Sterile preparation (with chlorhexidine) and drape * Using ultrasound guidance (SonoSite S-nerve) with a low frequency (2-5 Hz) curvilinear transducer in a sterile cover, the transducer is placed in a transverse plane over the SIJ and needle entry point is chosen at the medial end of the ultrasound transducer * 3 mL of 1% lidocaine is injected subcutaneously at site of needle entry * Under ultrasound guidance, a Havel's Inc. EchoStim (facet tip) 21 Gauge 4" needle is inserted in a medial to lateral direction and guided into the SIJ. (0.5-2 mL of normal saline may be injected during needle insertion to locate tip of needle and to ensure solution does not "spill out" onto sacrum). * After using the Doppler function to identify any surrounding vessels (to avoid intravascular injection), 20 mg of triamcinolone diluted in 4 mL of 1% lidocaine is injected. * Patient observed in recovery bay for 20 minutes and then discharged home

  • DeviceHavel's Inc. EchoStim (facet tip) 21 Gauge 4" needle
  • DeviceSonoSite S-nerve
  • Deviceiohexol
  • Drugtriamcinolone/lidocaine

    Drug pages: Triamcinolone · Lidocaine

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Difference in Minutes Between a Sacroiliac Joint Injection Done With Ultrasound vs Fluoroscopy

    during procedure from the time monitors are placed on patient to the time of withdrawal of needle from skin

    Time frame: difference in minutes between a sacroiliac joint injection, an expected average of 9 minutes

  2. Change in Pain Score From Baseline to 30 Minutes Pre-procedure Using the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DoD/VA PRS) 0-10

    Study subjects rate their pain on a scale of 0-10 (0=no pain, 10= the highest level of pain experienced), hence the lower the score the better the outcome.

    Time frame: 30 minutes pre-procedure minus baseline

  3. Change in Pain Score From Baseline to 2 Weeks Post-procedure Using the DoD/VA PRS

    Study subjects rate their pain on a scale of 0-10 (0=no pain, 10= the highest level of pain experienced), hence the lower the score the better the outcome.

    Time frame: 2 weeks post-procedure minus baseline

  4. Change in Pain Score From Baseline to 3 Months Post-procedure Using the DoD/VA PRS

    Study subjects rate their pain on a scale of 0-10 (0=no pain, 10= the highest level of pain experienced), hence the lower the score the better the outcome.

    Time frame: 3 months post-procedure minus baseline

Secondary outcomes

  1. Impression of Change of Condition at 2 Weeks Post-procedure Using the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) Scale

    Study subjects rate their change in overall condition on a scale of 0-6 (0=no change, 6=better and a definite improvement that has made a real worthwhile difference). The range of the change in pain for both groups observed was in fact 0-5.

    Time frame: 2 weeks post-procedure

  2. Impression of Change of Condition at 3 Months Post-procedure Using the PGIC Scale

    Study subjects rate their change in overall condition on a scale of 0-6 (0=no change, 6=better and a definite improvement that has made a real worthwhile difference). The range of the change in pain for both groups observed was in fact 0-5.

    Time frame: 3 months post-procedure

  3. Change in Pain Score Since Sacroiliac (SI) Injection at 2 Weeks Post-procedure Using the DoD/VA PRS

    Study subjects rate their pain on a scale of 0-10 (0=no pain, 10= the highest level of pain experienced), hence the lower the score the better the outcome. Score reported is reporting a difference/change between two time points.

    Time frame: during/just before sacroiliac (SI) injection and 2 weeks post-procedure

  4. Change in Pain Score Since SI Injection at 3 Months Post-procedure Using the DoD/VA PRS

    Study subjects rate their pain on a scale of 0-10 (0=no pain, 10= the highest level of pain experienced), hence the lower the score the better the outcome.Score reported is reporting a difference/change between two time points.

    Time frame: during/just before sacroiliac (SI) injection and 3 months post-procedure

  5. Satisfaction of Procedure as a Measure of Safety and Tolerability Using a Numerical Scale 1-5

    "1= very dissatisfied" to "5=very satisfied".

    Time frame: 2 weeks post-procedure

  6. Satisfaction of Procedure as a Measure of Safety and Tolerability Using a Numerical Scale 1-5

    "1= very dissatisfied" to "5=very satisfied".

    Time frame: 3 months post-procedure

07

Results

Posted Nov 13, 2015

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneFluoroscopic GuidanceUltrasound Guidance
Started1414
Completed1414
Not completed00

Outcome measures

PrimaryDifference in Minutes Between a Sacroiliac Joint Injection Done With Ultrasound vs Fluoroscopy

during procedure from the time monitors are placed on patient to the time of withdrawal of needle from skin

Time frame:
difference in minutes between a sacroiliac joint injection, an expected average of 9 minutes
Reported as:
Mean · minutes
Difference in Minutes Between a Sacroiliac Joint Injection Done With Ultrasound vs Fluoroscopy
minutesFluoroscopic GuidanceUltrasound Guidance
Difference in Minutes Between a Sacroiliac Joint Injection Done With Ultrasound vs Fluoroscopy9.471 (6.92 to 15)9.552 (3 to 30)
PrimaryChange in Pain Score From Baseline to 30 Minutes Pre-procedure Using the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DoD/VA PRS) 0-10

Study subjects rate their pain on a scale of 0-10 (0=no pain, 10= the highest level of pain experienced), hence the lower the score the better the outcome.

Time frame:
30 minutes pre-procedure minus baseline
Reported as:
Mean · units on a scale
Change in Pain Score From Baseline to 30 Minutes Pre-procedure Using the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DoD/VA PRS) 0-10
units on a scaleFluoroscopic GuidanceUltrasound Guidance
Change in Pain Score From Baseline to 30 Minutes Pre-procedure Using the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DoD/VA PRS) 0-10-2.571 (-5 to 0)-2.571 (-7 to 0)
PrimaryChange in Pain Score From Baseline to 2 Weeks Post-procedure Using the DoD/VA PRS

Study subjects rate their pain on a scale of 0-10 (0=no pain, 10= the highest level of pain experienced), hence the lower the score the better the outcome.

Time frame:
2 weeks post-procedure minus baseline
Reported as:
Mean · units on a scale
Change in Pain Score From Baseline to 2 Weeks Post-procedure Using the DoD/VA PRS
units on a scaleFluoroscopic GuidanceUltrasound Guidance
Change in Pain Score From Baseline to 2 Weeks Post-procedure Using the DoD/VA PRS-1 (-3 to 0)-1.643 (-6 to 0)
PrimaryChange in Pain Score From Baseline to 3 Months Post-procedure Using the DoD/VA PRS

Study subjects rate their pain on a scale of 0-10 (0=no pain, 10= the highest level of pain experienced), hence the lower the score the better the outcome.

Time frame:
3 months post-procedure minus baseline
Reported as:
Mean · units on a scale
Change in Pain Score From Baseline to 3 Months Post-procedure Using the DoD/VA PRS
units on a scaleFluoroscopic GuidanceUltrasound Guidance
Change in Pain Score From Baseline to 3 Months Post-procedure Using the DoD/VA PRS-0.875 (-2 to .5)-1.556 (-5 to 0)
SecondaryImpression of Change of Condition at 2 Weeks Post-procedure Using the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) Scale

Study subjects rate their change in overall condition on a scale of 0-6 (0=no change, 6=better and a definite improvement that has made a real worthwhile difference). The range of the change in pain for both groups observed was in fact 0-5.

Time frame:
2 weeks post-procedure
Reported as:
Mean · units on a scale
Impression of Change of Condition at 2 Weeks Post-procedure Using the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) Scale
units on a scaleFluoroscopic GuidanceUltrasound Guidance
Impression of Change of Condition at 2 Weeks Post-procedure Using the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) Scale2.385 (0 to 5)2.714 (0 to 5)
SecondaryImpression of Change of Condition at 3 Months Post-procedure Using the PGIC Scale

Study subjects rate their change in overall condition on a scale of 0-6 (0=no change, 6=better and a definite improvement that has made a real worthwhile difference). The range of the change in pain for both groups observed was in fact 0-5.

Time frame:
3 months post-procedure
Reported as:
Mean · units on a scale
Impression of Change of Condition at 3 Months Post-procedure Using the PGIC Scale
units on a scaleFluoroscopic GuidanceUltrasound Guidance
Impression of Change of Condition at 3 Months Post-procedure Using the PGIC Scale2.818 (0 to 5)2.222 (0 to 5)
SecondaryChange in Pain Score Since Sacroiliac (SI) Injection at 2 Weeks Post-procedure Using the DoD/VA PRS

Study subjects rate their pain on a scale of 0-10 (0=no pain, 10= the highest level of pain experienced), hence the lower the score the better the outcome. Score reported is reporting a difference/change between two time points.

Time frame:
during/just before sacroiliac (SI) injection and 2 weeks post-procedure
Reported as:
Mean · units on a scale
Change in Pain Score Since Sacroiliac (SI) Injection at 2 Weeks Post-procedure Using the DoD/VA PRS
units on a scaleFluoroscopic GuidanceUltrasound Guidance
Change in Pain Score Since Sacroiliac (SI) Injection at 2 Weeks Post-procedure Using the DoD/VA PRS4.846 (0 to 8)4.385 (2 to 9)
SecondaryChange in Pain Score Since SI Injection at 3 Months Post-procedure Using the DoD/VA PRS

Study subjects rate their pain on a scale of 0-10 (0=no pain, 10= the highest level of pain experienced), hence the lower the score the better the outcome.Score reported is reporting a difference/change between two time points.

Time frame:
during/just before sacroiliac (SI) injection and 3 months post-procedure
Reported as:
Mean · units on a scale
Change in Pain Score Since SI Injection at 3 Months Post-procedure Using the DoD/VA PRS
units on a scaleFluoroscopic GuidanceUltrasound Guidance
Change in Pain Score Since SI Injection at 3 Months Post-procedure Using the DoD/VA PRS4 (1 to 7)4.333 (3 to 8)
SecondarySatisfaction of Procedure as a Measure of Safety and Tolerability Using a Numerical Scale 1-5

"1= very dissatisfied" to "5=very satisfied".

Time frame:
2 weeks post-procedure
Reported as:
Mean · units on a scale of satisfaction
Satisfaction of Procedure as a Measure of Safety and Tolerability Using a Numerical Scale 1-5
units on a scale of satisfactionFluoroscopic GuidanceUltrasound Guidance
Satisfaction of Procedure as a Measure of Safety and Tolerability Using a Numerical Scale 1-53.615 (1 to 5)3.857 (2 to 5)
SecondarySatisfaction of Procedure as a Measure of Safety and Tolerability Using a Numerical Scale 1-5

"1= very dissatisfied" to "5=very satisfied".

Time frame:
3 months post-procedure
Reported as:
Mean · units on a scale of satisfaction
Satisfaction of Procedure as a Measure of Safety and Tolerability Using a Numerical Scale 1-5
units on a scale of satisfactionFluoroscopic GuidanceUltrasound Guidance
Satisfaction of Procedure as a Measure of Safety and Tolerability Using a Numerical Scale 1-53.364 (2 to 4)3.667 (3 to 4)

Adverse events

Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Fluoroscopic Guidance—0/14 (0%)5/14 (35.7%)
Ultrasound Guidance—0/14 (0%)3/14 (21.4%)
Most frequent other events
Most frequent other events
EventFluoroscopic GuidanceUltrasound Guidance
Vasovagal reactionCardiac disorders1/141/14
Facetogenic back painMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders1/141/14
Lower back painMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders1/141/14
Myofascial pain syndromeMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders1/140/14
Sacroiliac joint painMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders1/140/14

Baseline characteristics

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Fluoroscopic GuidanceUltrasound GuidanceTotal
Mean37 ± 7.617534.07 ± 8.269535.535 ± 7.9435
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Fluoroscopic GuidanceUltrasound GuidanceTotal
Female6511
Male8917
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Fluoroscopic GuidanceUltrasound GuidanceTotal
United States141428
08

Study locations

1 site
  • Pain Medicine Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Naval Medical Center, San Diego
    San Diego, California 92134, United States
09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 13, 2015, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02420041
Lead sponsor
United States Naval Medical Center, San Diego
Collaborators
United States Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Apr 17, 2015
Start date
Oct 2012
Primary completion
Mar 2014
Completion
Mar 2014
Results posted
Nov 13, 2015
Last update
Nov 13, 2015

Study contacts

Steven R Hanling, MD
principal investigator · United States Naval Medical Center, San Diego

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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