Vacuum phenomena in the sacroiliac joints and in association with sacral insufficiency fractures. Incidence and significance.

STUDY

DESIGN

The computed tomography scans of two groups of patients of similar age and sex, with and without sacral insufficiency fractures, respectively, were assessed retrospectively.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the incidence of sacroiliac joint vacuum phenomena in individuals with and without sacral insufficiency fractures and to evaluate a possible association between vacuum phenomena and sacral insufficiency fractures.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The occurrence of vacuum phenomena is well recognized in the vertebra, but not in the sacroiliac joint. Gas foci in sacral insufficiency fractures recently has been reported. It has been suggested that the presence of vacuum phenomena may aid in the diagnosis of these fractures.

METHODS

The computed tomography scans of 28 female patients with sacral insufficiency fractures and of 60 age- and sex-matched control individuals were evaluated.

RESULTS

In the group with sacral insufficiency fractures, vacuum phenomena were detected in 69.2% of patients and in 63.5% of sacroiliac joints, with sacroiliac joint-related osteophytes found in 19.2% of patients. Very similar incidences were demonstrated in the control group. There was no correlation between sacroiliac joint osteophytes and vacuum phenomena in either group. The vacuum phenomenon was detected within the sacral insufficiency fracture in only one patient, in whom the fracture communicated with the adjacent sacroiliac joint.

CONCLUSION

Vacuum phenomena are frequently found in the sacroiliac joints of elderly women, and their presence is of no diagnostic significance when demonstrated in patients with sacral insufficiency fractures.