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Mobility and anthropometry of the sacroiliac joint: range of motion and morphological characteristics

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Abstract

Purpose

The sacroiliac joint (SIJ), a synovial joint with irregular surfaces, is crucial for stabilizing the body and facilitating daily activities. However, recent studies have reported that 15–30% of lower back pain can be attributed to instability in the SIJ, a condition collectively referred to as sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD). The aim of this study is to investigate how the morphological characteristics of the auricular surface may influence the SIJ range of motion (ROM) and to examine differences in SIJ ROM between females and males, thereby contributing to the enhancement of SIJD diagnosis and treatment.

Methods

We measured SIJ ROM using motion-analysis cameras in 24 fresh cadavers of Korean adults (13 males and 11 females). Using three-dimensional renderings of the measured auricular surface, we investigated the correlations between the morphological characteristics of the auricular surface and the ROM of the SIJ.

Results

The SIJ ROM was between 0.2° and 6.7° and was significantly greater in females (3.58° ± 1.49) compared with males (1.38° ± 1.00). Dividing the participants into high-motion (3.87° ± 1.19) and low-motion (1.13° ± 0.62) groups based on the mean ROM (2.39°) showed no significant differences in any measurements. Additionally, bone defects around the SIJ were identified using computed tomography of the high-motion group. In the low-motion group, calcification between auricular surfaces and bone bridges was observed.

Conclusion

This suggests that the SIJ ROM is influenced more by the anatomical structures around the SIJ than by the morphological characteristics of the auricular surface.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (No. NRF-2019R1A2C1002609) and the Industry-Academy Cooperation Program through the Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation of the Catholic University of Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedicine & Health Science, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Seonjin Shin

  2. Catholic Institute for Applied Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222, Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea

    Dai-Soon Kwak & U-Young Lee

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  1. Seonjin Shin
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Contributions

Dai-Soon Kwak conceptualized the study. Seonjin Shin curated the data. Seonjin Shin and Dai-Soon Kwak performed the formal analysis. Seonjin Shin and U-Young Lee performed the investigation. Dai-Soon Kwak administered the project. Dai-Soon Kwak and U-Young Lee validated the process. Seonjin Shin visualized the data. Dai-Soon Kwak acquired funding. Seonjin Shin original drafted the manuscript. Dai-Soon Kwak and U- Young Lee edited the manuscript prior to the final version.

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Correspondence to Dai-Soon Kwak.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

This study was conducted in compliance with the Anatomy and Preservation of Corpses Act of the Republic of Korea (No. 14885) and received approval from the Anatomy Review Committee of The Catholic University School of Medicine (No. R19-A019).

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Shin, S., Kwak, DS. & Lee, UY. Mobility and anthropometry of the sacroiliac joint: range of motion and morphological characteristics. Biomed. Eng. Lett. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13534-024-00382-3

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