Expected Outcomes

What to Expect After iFuse SI Joint Fusion Surgery

Surgical outcomes and post-surgical results vary. Please talk to your doctor about what to expect and if you have any questions about any stage of the SIJ treatment.

If your doctor has recommended minimally invasive SI joint fusion with iFuse, your next questions might be: What is the iFuse SI joint fusion recovery time? How soon will I be walking after iFuse surgery? And what do typical patient outcomes look like for the iFuse procedure? Here we’ve outlined what patients often experience on the day of and the weeks following iFuse surgery (available since 2009).

• Day of iFuse Surgery
• After the Minimally Invasive iFuse Surgery
• iFuse Success Rates and Patient Outcomes
• iFuse Patient Success Story

Day of iFuse Surgery

Minimally invasive surgical (MIS) approach is less invasive than traditional SI joint surgery. The iFuse procedure involves the insertion of typically three small, triangular, titanium implants across the SI joint, and is designed to stabilize and fuse the SI joint. This procedure is done through a small incision in the buttock and takes approximately one hour.

The rigid titanium construction and implant geometry of the iFuse implant, available since 2009, is designed to provide immediate stabilization of your SI joint.

Where your procedure is performed, (hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, or ambulatory surgery center), and the duration of your stay will be determined by your physician. Some patients go home the same day they have the iFuse procedure, and some patients may stay in the hospital overnight. Those decisions will be influenced by your overall health and associated medical conditions.

Learn more about the iFuse procedure

After the Minimally Invasive iFuse Surgery

Please discuss post-operative weight bearing recommendations with your surgeon. Some patients may be able to progress rapidly to full weight-bearing. Other patients may require a period of protected weight-bearing due to associated health conditions such as age, osteoporosis, altered bone health, impaired balance, and/ or gait, or other musculoskeletal conditions. You may also receive guidelines to ice the surgical site to reduce any swelling, perform certain exercises including short periods of walking to keep up your strength, and to visit a physical therapist. You'll receive post-operative guidelines that are suited to your health and situation. Follow your doctor's advice.

At discharge, your surgeon will arrange follow-up visits to assess your progress and health status (including the status of your incision) and may take additional x-rays of your surgical site.

Your doctor will advise you when it is appropriate to resume your daily activities and weight bearing activities, such as walking without crutches or carrying groceries. When you return to work and resume other activities will depend on your postsurgical progress and occupation.

iFuse Success Rates and Patient Outcomes

More than 100 published, peer-reviewed articles have demonstrated the safety, effectiveness, durability and economic benefit of the iFuse implant, available since 2009. Multiple clinical studies, including randomized trials, have shown that treatment with the iFuse Implant improved pain, patient function, and quality of life.^{18,19,20,21,22}

In fact, two years after the surgery, patient satisfaction was 88%⁸⁰. The iFuse Implant System was shown to reduce SI joint pain by 68%, reduce the usage of opioids by 29%, and improve back function by 50%¹⁸. View more details on the randomized controlled trial.

The success of iFuse is due to a few factors:

1. It was designed specifically to stabilize and fuse the SI joint -- and nothing else.
2. The iFuse implant’s porous surface facilitates bony ongrowth and ingrowth. 
3. The triangular implant profile minimizes rotation and the press fit minimizes micromotion.

All these factors can help lead to lasting relief of SI joint pain. Read more about the potential risks.