The LinQ™ Stabilization System is a minimally invasive option for patients suffering from SI joint dysfunction.
The LinQ Procedure Offers Several Benefits Compared to Traditional SI Joint Surgery:
- Minimally invasive
- No metal implanted
- Faster recovery time than traditional fusion
- Posterior approach away from nerves and large blood vessels
What is LinQ?
The LinQ SI Joint Stabilization System provides SI joint dysfunction patients with a minimally invasive option to combat pain. After a thorough diagnostic process, physicians may help alleviate, and in many cases eliminate, chronic pain by placing a single LinQ allograft into the SI joint. This single implant may help patients immediately regain joint stability – and with its large graft window, the LinQ SI Joint Stabilization System helps create an ideal environment for long-term fusion.
How Does It Work?
This unique procedure is minimally invasive and involves implanting one small bone allograft into the SI joint to stabilize and fuse the dysfunctional joint. The entire procedure is done through a single, small incision on the patient’s back. Patients leave the hospital or surgery center the same day, shortly after surgery and can usually resume daily living activities within a couple of weeks, depending on how well they are healing and based on physician’s orders.
About the Procedure
What to expect after LinQ SI joint stabilization procedure?
Surgical outcomes and post-surgical results vary. Please talk to your doctor about what to expect and if you have any questions about any stage of the SIJ treatment.
If your doctor has recommended minimally invasive SI joint fusion with LinQ, your next questions might be: What is the LinQ SI joint fusion recovery time? How soon will I be back to work after LinQ surgery? What are my limitations after LinQ surgery?
Here we’ve outlined what patients often experience on the day of and the weeks following LinQ surgery.
Day of LinQ surgery
Sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion is a surgical procedure performed in an operating room, with either general anesthesia or MAC (monitored anesthesia care). The LinQ Implant System, a minimally invasive surgical (MIS) procedure, requires a small incision (about one to two inches long), in the lower back.
The LinQ procedure involves the insertion of a small bone allograft implant in the SI joint and is designed to stabilize and fuse the SI joint. This procedure is done through a single, small incision in your lower back and is usually completed in less than one hour.
Most patients go home the same day they have the LinQ procedure and are free to leave as soon as they have recovered from anesthesia.
After the minimally invasive LinQ Procedure
The whole LinQ SI procedure usually takes less than an hour, and recovery time is significantly less than most conventional SI fusion surgeries. In a typical situation, patients walk out of the hospital or surgery center soon after they have recovered from anesthesia. There are some light restrictions and your surgeon will arrange a follow-up visit to assess your progress and health status (including the status of your incision) and may take additional x-rays of your surgical site if necessary. When you return to work and resume other activities will depend on your postsurgical progress and occupation.