What is the purpose of a diagnostic injection, to select patients for fusion surgery only? Also, with diagnostic injections using anesthetic and steroid, what is the duration of effect expected for the steroid?
The objective of the diagnostic injections is to confirm the suspected diagnosis of sacroiliac joint complex pain and identify patients who may benefit from therapeutic SIJIs. This LCD does not cover fusion or the role of SIJI injections for identification of surgical candidates. If a diagnostic injection includes anesthetic and corticosteroid the duration of the effect should be consistent with that of the corticosteroid used and typically last about 12 weeks. Therefore, injections should not be repeated during this time frame.