Sacroiliac joint degeneration in degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis and related risk factors: a retrospective study

Objective This study was performed to evaluate the degree of radiological sacroiliac joint (SIJ) degeneration in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS). The related risk factors for SIJ degeneration were also investigated. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the lumbar and pelvic computed tomography (CT) scans of 303 patients with DLS admitted from January 2018 to December 2021. One hundred and fifty-six age-, gender-, and body mass index-matched patients without lumbar anomality who underwent lower abdominal or pelvic computed tomography scans were included in the control group. Sagittal parameters were measured on full-length lateral radiographs. Two protocols (Backlund’s grade and Eno’s classification) were used to assess SIJ degeneration. Univariate analysis and bivariate and multivariate regression analysis were performed to identify the factors affecting SIJ degeneration in patients with DLS. Results According to Backlund’s grade and Eno’s classification, SIJ degeneration was more severe in the DLS group than in the control group ( P < 0.001). Multi-segment degenerative changes ( P = 0.032), two-level DLS ( P = 0.033), a history of hysterectomy ( P < 0.001), lower extremity pain ( P = 0.016), and pelvic pain ( P = 0.013) were associated with more significant SIJ degeneration as assessed by Backlund’s grade. The results of Pearson’s correlation analysis showed positive correlation between the sagittal vertical axis and SIJ degeneration ( r = 0.232, P = 0.009). The multivariate linear regression analysis showed that a history of hysterectomy was significantly correlated with SIJ degeneration in patients with DLS ( r = 1.951, P = 0.008). Conclusions SIJ degeneration was more severe in patients with than without DLS. We should take SIJ degeneration into consideration when diagnosing and treating DLS especially those who had undergone previous hysterectomy or showed sagittal malalignment.