Sacroiliac steroid injections do not predict ablation relief-not a surprise.

We write to make some comments and pertinent observations regarding a recent presentation at the American Academy of Pain Medicine 28th Annual Conference by Cheng [1]. In an article titled “Sacroiliac Steroid Injections Do Not Predict Ablation Relief,” he found in a retrospective analysis of 80 cases of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain that steroid injection into the joint did not predict the subsequent response to radio frequency ablation of the lateral branch nerves. There was pain reduction by 50% or more in 75% of patients receiving intra-articular steroids. However, the post-radio frequency pain relief of 50% or greater had no statistically significant relationship with patients who achieved greater than a 50% pain reduction after intra-articular steroid injection.