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Amandeep Bhalla, MD
Sacroiliac Joint Minimally Invasive Fusion in Long Beach, CA: Dr. Bhalla, orthopedic spine surgeon in Long Beach

Care services · Long Beach, CA

Sacroiliac Joint Minimally Invasive Fusion in Long Beach, CA

The sacroiliac joints connect the spine to the pelvis and are a hidden cause of up to a quarter of chronic low back pain. When injections confirm the SI joint as the source and therapy has not helped, a minimally invasive fusion can stabilize it for lasting relief.

Sacroiliac Joint Minimally Invasive Fusion in Long Beach, with patients welcome from across South Bay, Orange County and the greater Los Angeles area.

Book a consultation(562) 427-8119

Overview

What is minimally invasive SI joint fusion?

Through an incision of about an inch on the side of the buttock, Dr. Bhalla places two or three titanium implants across the sacroiliac joint under live imaging or navigation. The implants stop the painful micro motion immediately and allow the joint to fuse over the following months.

The procedure takes under an hour, uses no large incisions and spares the muscles of the back and hip.

Book a consultation(562) 427-8119
Sacroiliac Joint Minimally Invasive Fusion: patient care
Sacroiliac Joint Minimally Invasive Fusion: recovery

Is it right for you

Who is a candidate?

Candidates have SI joint pain confirmed by exam and by a diagnostic injection that relieved at least 75 percent of the pain, and have not improved with at least six months of therapy, medication or injections.

Conditions treated

  • Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
  • SI joint degeneration
  • Pain after lumbar fusion that localizes to the SI joint
  • Post traumatic SI instability
  • Pelvic pain after pregnancy

Common symptoms

  • Low back pain below the belt line
  • Buttock pain, sometimes into the thigh
  • Pain when rising from a chair or rolling in bed
  • Pain with standing on one leg

Near you

Sacroiliac Joint Minimally Invasive Fusion in Long Beach, CA

Dr. Bhalla provides sacroiliac joint minimally invasive fusion for people in Long Beach and the surrounding cities. Dr. Bhalla leads the Spine Center at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center.

If you live in Signal Hill, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Orange County or anywhere nearby, a consultation is a short drive away.

Book a consultation

Patients come to us from

  • Long Beach
  • Signal Hill
  • Lakewood
  • Seal Beach
  • Los Alamitos
  • Cypress
  • Bellflower
  • Torrance
  • Huntington Beach
  • Carson

Not on the list? We see patients from across Southern California.

Benefits

What are the benefits?

For a joint that has been overlooked for years, stabilizing it can be life changing.

  • One inch incision

    Minimal tissue disruption and a quick procedure.

  • Immediate stability

    Implants stop painful motion right away.

  • Outpatient

    Most patients go home the same day.

  • Durable relief

    Studies show pain relief maintained at five years.

Recovery

How long is the recovery?

Weight bearing is limited briefly to let the implants settle, then activity is built back steadily.

  1. 01/First three weeks

    Protected walking

    Partial weight bearing with a walker or crutches on the treated side.

  2. 02/Three to six weeks

    Full weight

    Walking without aids. Physical therapy begins.

  3. 03/Three to six months

    Fusion complete

    Bone grows across the joint. Return to all activities.

Safety

Is it safe?

Minimally invasive SI fusion has a strong safety record with low complication rates. Navigation protects the nearby nerves. Risks include infection, implant malposition and, rarely, nerve irritation, all uncommon in experienced hands.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know my pain is from the SI joint?

A combination of specific exam maneuvers and a diagnostic injection into the joint. If numbing the joint takes the pain away, the joint is the source.

Why was my SI joint missed before?

SI pain mimics lumbar disc and hip problems and does not show clearly on MRI. It is often found only after other causes are ruled out.

Will fusing the joint limit my movement?

No. The SI joint moves only a few millimeters normally, so fusing it does not change how you walk or bend.

Can both sides be done?

Yes, if both joints are confirmed as pain sources. They are usually treated in separate procedures.

Other services

More ways we treat the neck and back.