Abstract

Introduction: Chronic sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain is a frequent cause of low-back pain and remains challenging to diagnose and treat due to complex anatomy, overlapping clinical features, and limited long-term efficacy of conventional therapies. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 74-year-old woman with chronic right-sided sacroiliitis associated with spondyloarthritis, presenting with persistent gluteal pain refractory to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy, and steroid injections. The patient underwent a dual imaging-guided intra-articular injection, consisting of pre-procedural ultrasound assessment and fluoroscopy-guided needle placement to confirm intra-articular access prior to injection. Autologous adipose tissue purified through mechanical filtration, without enzymatic manipulation, was administered. Pain intensity decreased from a visual analog scale (VAS) score of 8/10 at baseline to 2/10 at three months, with sustained improvement up to 12 months, functional recovery, and discontinuation of analgesic therapy, without procedure-related complications. Conclusions: This case suggests that dual imaging-guided intra-articular injection of mechanically filtered autologous adipose tissue may be feasible in selected patients with refractory SIJ pain. No causal inference can be drawn from a single case, and further studies are required to evaluate safety and clinical effectiveness.

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