-Case Reports-

Unexplained Lower Abdominal Pain Associated with Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction: Report of 2 Cases

Daijiro Morimoto¹, Toyohiko Isu¹, Kyongsong Kim², Ryoji Matsumoto¹ and Masanori Isobe¹

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Kushiro Rosai Hospital, Hokkaido
²Department of Neurosurgery, Nippon Medical School

A 25-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man presented with chronic lower back pain and unexplained lower abdominal pain. Both patients had groin tenderness at the medial border of the anterior superior iliac spine. The results of radiographical and physical examinations suggested sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Sacroiliac joint injection relieved their symptoms, including groin tenderness. In our experience, groin tenderness is highly specific for sacroiliac joint dysfunction. We speculate that spasm of the iliac muscle can cause groin pain and tenderness. Groin pain and a history of unexplained abdominal pain, with lower back pain, are symptoms that suggest sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Additionally, compression of the iliac muscle is a simple and useful maneuver; therefore, it can be used as a screening test for sacroiliac joint dysfunction, alongside other provocation tests.

J Nippon Med Sch 2011; 78: 257-260

Keywords
sacroiliac joint dysfunction, referred pain, groin pain

Correspondence to
Daijiro Morimoto, MD, PhD, Department of Neurosurgery, Kushiro Rosai Hospital, 13-23 Nakazono, Kushiro, Hokkaido 085-8533, Japan
dai_sampo@yahoo.co.jp

Received, March 6, 2011
Accepted, April 8, 2011