AAOS: SI-BONE Launches SI Joint Women’s Health Initiative

SI-BONE Inc., a medical device company that pioneered the use of the iFuse Implant System (“iFuse”), a triangular shaped minimally invasive surgical (MIS) device indicated for fusion for certain disorders of the sacroiliac (SI) joint, announced the launch of the SI Joint Women’s Health Initiative at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) 2017 annual meeting in San Diego. The inaugural meeting will take place on Thursday, March 16th, with a reception from 5:00pm to 6:30pm followed by a dinner program from 7:00 to 8:30pm.
 
The SI Joint Women’s Health Initiative is a broad based educational program supported by orthopedic spine surgeons, neuro spine surgeons and associated healthcare providers who are passionate about women’s health and focused on raising awareness about SI joint disorders in women. The kick-off meeting at AAOS is open to all surgeons, physician assistants and nurse practititioners who diagnose and treat patients with lower back pain symptoms and who are interested in learning more about how the SI joint can be a contributing factor for women with chronic lower back pain.
 
Multiple studies have shown that 15 to 30% of all lower back pain can be attributed to the SI joint and of those suffering with SI joint disorders, roughly two-thirds are women. Anatomic and physiologic gender differences result in women being more susceptible to SI joint injury particularly during pregnancy and delivery. Approximately half of all women have pelvic pain during pregnancy and one-fourth experience pain after pregnancy¹. Symptoms often disappear after childbirth however, in postpartum women, 20% have significant pain three years following childbirth².
 
The opening meeting of the SI Joint Women’s Health Initiative at AAOS will be hosted by Alexis Waguespack, MD, from Spine Care Medical Group in New Orleans and honored as a Becker’s Spine Review Top 10 Female Orthopedic Surgeon. The reception will also feature guest speaker Karen Licitra, former Vice President of Johnson & Johnson Global Medical Solutions Group and Fortune 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and Jesi Payne, mother of three and bi-lateral iFuse Implant System patient recently featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine.
 
References
¹Wu WH, et al. Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPP), I: Terminology, clinical presentation, and prevalence. Eur Spine J. 2004;13:575–89. Epub 2004 Aug 27. 
²Norén L, et al. Lumbar back and posterior pelvic pain during pregnancy: a 3-year follow-up. Eur Spine J. 2002;11;267-71.