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Preoperative CT angiography helped map gluteal vessels, guiding safer screw placement in sacroiliac joint fusion.  

A pilot study published in June 2025 in the issue of Journal of Pain Research reported that the lateral transiliac approach for sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion was widely used but posed a risk of injuring branches of the superior gluteal artery (SGA).  

Researchers determined if preprocedural CT angiography (CTA) could map the SGA and its branches relative to planned lateral transiliac SI joint fusion paths to aid surgical planning and minimize vascular risk.  

They assessed 20 individuals who underwent preoperative CTA. Angiographic data were used to create 3-dimensional vascular reconstructions. Proposed transiliac screw trajectories were identified and measured in relation to nearby vascular structures. All measurements were analyzed using descriptive statistics.  

The results showed that 20 patients’ imaging data were analyzed. The average distance to the nearest SGA branch was 19.0 mm ± 9.4 mm on the right side, with a minimum of 5.75 mm, and 17.3 mm ± 7.9 mm on the left side, with a minimum of 5.97 mm. Screw placement was modified in 1 out of 10 surgical cases. The mean estimated blood loss (EBL) among patients of surgery was 6.5 mL ± 2.4 mL. 

Investigators concluded that preoperative CTA helped identify the SGA pathway, supporting safer planning of lateral transiliac SI joint fusion. 

Source: dovepress.com/ct-angiographic-evaluation-of-superior-gluteal-artery-branches-in-late-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPR