Clinical Study on a Novel Minimally Invasive Posterior Sacroiliac Fusion Device

The PainTEQ study is a prospective, multi-site, prospective, single arm study intended to collect clinical data outcomes data associated with the treatment of sacroiliac disease with the LinQ fusion procedure. Data will be collected using self-report measures including the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain assessment where the participant is asked to place a line perpendicular to the VAS line at the point that represents their pain intensity. Using a ruler, the score is determined by measuring the distance (mm) on the 10-cm line between the "no pain" anchor and the patient's mark, providing a range of scores from 0-100. Other self-report questionnaires will be administered including the Oswestry Disablity Index (ODI) to measure low-back pain and disability, and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System 29 (PROMIS 29) to measure physical, mental, and social health and well-being.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 21-70
* Patient has lower back pain for \>6 months inadequately responsive to conservative care
* Patient has at least 3 of 4 physical examination maneuvers specific for the SI joint (FABER, Gaenslen test, Stork/Gillete, and Yoman)
* Patient has improvement in lower back pain numeric rating scale (NRS) of at least 50% after injection of local anesthetic into affected SI joint(s) with confirmed arthrogram, within 30-60 min from injection
* Degenerative sacroiliitis as SIJ mediated in in the context of either radiographic evidence of SIJ degeneration, evident on computed tomography or Xrays or a history of prior lumbar fusion.
* SIJ disruption was defined in the study of as SIJ mediated pain in the context of asymmetric widening of SIJ on CT or Xrays or the presence of significant contrast leakage during diagnostic SIJ block
* Baseline Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score of at least 30%
* Baseline Low back/buttock pain score of at least 50 on 0-100 mm visual analog scale
* Patient has signed study-specific informed consent form
* Patient has the necessary mental capacity to consent and participate and is physically able to comply with study protocol requirements
* Patient has medical insurance that covers this standard of care procedure and all other anticipated and unanticipated procedure related care.
* Patient's physician has decided that the best treatment for the patient's sacro-iliac disease is the LinQ system and the patient has agreed to the treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inability to confirm that the pain is arising from the sacroiliac joint
* Current severe back pain due to other causes, such as lumbar disc degeneration, lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spondylolisthesis, lumbar spinal stenosis, lumbar facet degeneration, lumbar radicular pain, and lumbar vertebral body fracture
* SIJ pain secondary to inflammatory conditions, Other known sacroiliac pathology such as: Sacral dysplasia, Inflammatory sacroiliitis (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis or other HLA-associated spondylo-arthropathy), Tumor, Infection, Acute fracture, and Crystal arthropathy.
* Radicular pain extending beyond the buttock ≥ 30mm on VAS
* Has complete resolution of pain from the diagnostic SIJ injection lasting 30 days or more
* Has had an injection with corticosteroid into the index SIJ within the last 90 days
* Has had any neuraxial injection with corticosteroid within the last 90 days
* Has greater than 50% pain relief from diagnostic medial branch blocks at the L4/5 and/or L5/S1 levels
* Has had a sacral radiofrequency ablation within the last 6 months
* History of any hardware placement within the sacrum or sacroiliac joint
* History of coccydynia or coccygectomy
* Clinical diagnosis of discogenic pain at L4/5 and/or L5/S1
* History of endometriosis or pudendal neuralgia
* History of recent (\<1 year) major trauma to pelvis
* Chronic rheumatologic condition (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis)
* Any condition or anatomy that makes treatment with the Linq Implant System infeasible
* Use of medications known to have detrimental effects on bone quality and soft-tissue healing (metabolic bone disease, induced or idiopathic)
* Prominent neurologic condition that would interfere with physical therapy
* Current local or systemic infection that raises the risk of surgery
* Patient currently receiving or seeking worker's compensation, disability remuneration, and/or involved in injury litigation.
* Patient is participating in an investigational study or has been involved in an investigational study within 3 months prior to evaluation for participation
* Patient with insurance coverage that does not cover the SI fusion\*
* Implanted intrathecal pain pump