The sacroiliac joint across ages - what is normal?

Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2024 Mar 29:16:1759720X241241126. doi: 10.1177/1759720X241241126. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

The anatomy of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is complex with wide variations inter-individually as well as intra-individually (right versus left) and a frequent occurrence of anatomical variants. Besides, the joints are subject to strain, which may elicit non-inflammatory subchondral changes such as bone marrow edema (BME), sclerosis, and fat deposition simulating inflammatory SIJ changes. Furthermore, normal physiological changes during skeletal maturation can make interpretation of SIJ magnetic resonance imaging in children challenging. Knowledge about the wide range of normal findings is therefore important to avoid misinterpretation of findings as pathological. This review describes the current knowledge about normal SIJ findings across all ages.

Keywords: computed tomography; imaging diagnostics; magnetic resonance imaging; normal anatomy; sacroiliac joints.

Publication types

  • Review