Methods of fusing a sacroiliac joint with an additively manufactured sacroiliac joint implant

A method of fusing a sacroiliac joint defined between a sacrum and an ilium, the sacrum and the ilium defining a pair of opposing articular surfaces, the method comprising:

• approaching a posterior aspect of the sacroiliac joint with an alignment jig comprising a length extending between a distal end and a proximal end, and a pair of reference elements, at least one of the pair of reference elements including a first alignment feature, and a second alignment feature transverse to the first alignment feature;
• aligning, under x-ray guidance, the pair of reference elements with the sacroiliac joint in order to establish a treatment trajectory and orientation, wherein, in the treatment trajectory and orientation, the first alignment feature is aligned with a plane defined by the sacroiliac joint, and the second alignment feature extend across the sacroiliac joint;
• and
• delivering an implant comprising a body comprising a sacral side, an iliac side opposite the sacral side, and a center portion located between the sacral and iliac side into the sacroiliac joint via the treatment trajectory and orientation such that the sacral side is positioned within bone of the sacrum, the iliac side is positioned within bone of the ilium, and the center portion is positioned generally along the plane of the sacroiliac joint.

A method of fusing a sacroiliac joint defined between a sacrum and an ilium, the sacrum and the ilium defining a pair of opposing articular surfaces, the method comprising:

• approaching a posterior aspect of the sacroiliac joint with an alignment jig comprising a length extending between a distal end region and a proximal end region, a pair of reference elements, a first reference element of the pair of reference elements positioned at the distal end region and a second reference element of the pair of reference elements positioned at the proximal end region;
• aligning, under x-ray guidance, the pair of reference elements such that the first reference element is generally overlaid with the second reference element and further aligning, under x-ray guidance, the pair of reference elements overlaid with one another with the pair of opposing articular surfaces of the sacrum and the ilium in order to establish a treatment trajectory and orientation in relation to the pair of opposed articular surfaces;
• and
• delivering an implant comprising a body comprising a sacral side, an iliac side opposite the sacral side, and a center portion located between the sacral and iliac side into the sacroiliac joint via the treatment trajectory and orientation such that the sacral side is positioned within bone of the sacrum, the iliac side is positioned within bone of the ilium, and the center portion is positioned generally along a plane of the sacroiliac joint.

A method of fusing a sacroiliac joint defined between a sacrum and an ilium, the sacrum and the ilium defining a pair of opposing articular surfaces, the method comprising:

• approaching a posterior aspect of the sacroiliac joint with an alignment jig comprising a length extending between a distal end region and a proximal end region, and a pair of reference elements, wherein the pair of reference elements are not channels;
• aligning, under x-ray guidance, the pair of reference elements such that the first reference element is generally overlaid with the second reference element and aligning, under x-ray guidance, the pair of reference elements with the pair of opposing articular surfaces of the sacrum and the ilium in order to establish a treatment trajectory and orientation in relation to the pair of opposed articular surfaces;
• and
• delivering an implant comprising a body comprising a sacral side, an iliac side opposite the sacral side, and a center portion located between the sacral and iliac side into the sacroiliac joint via the treatment trajectory and orientation such that the sacral side is positioned within bone of the sacrum, the iliac side is positioned within bone of the ilium, and the center portion is positioned generally along a plane of the sacroiliac joint.